FIA arrests 12 in passport scam

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested 12 suspects, including two passport office employees, during a crackdown on an alleged passport agent network accused of charging illegal fees from applicants.

According to an FIA Lahore Zone spokesperson, the Anti-Corruption Circle conducted raids outside passport offices in Garden Town, Shahdara and Harbanspura on Wednesday.

The suspects included two passport office employees and 10 agents operating in different parts of Lahore.

The FIA alleged that the suspects were collecting unauthorised payments from citizens by promising to facilitate or expedite passport processing. They were also accused of misleading applicants into paying additional charges for services that are officially provided through the standard application process.