Man held over Russia visa scam

The Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, Rawalpindi, claimed on Wednesday to have arrested a suspect accused of defrauding a citizen of Rs1.07 million by falsely promising to arrange a work visa for Russia. The recovered amount has been returned in full to the complainant.

According to FIA officials, FIA Islamabad Zone Director Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari ordered an inquiry after receiving a complaint from the father of Muhammad Zahid, who alleged that his son had been cheated by the suspect on the pretext of securing overseas employment.

Following the completion of Inquiry No 1095/2024, the FIA team arrested the suspect, Ghulam Qasim, alias Dr Qasim.

The investigation found that the suspect allegedly obtained Rs1.07m from Zahid through multiple bank transactions after promising to arrange a Russian work visa. However, he neither secured the promised visa nor refunded the money.

Officials said the inquiry revealed that the suspect received the payments through various bank accounts in a series of transactions carried out during 2023 and 2024.

As the suspect repeatedly failed to join the inquiry proceedings, the FIA registered FIR No 438/2025 under Sections 18 and 22 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, read with Section 109 of the PPC, before arresting him.