A staggering scam involving 12,096 fake Pakistani passports has rocked authorities, prompting the Ministry of Interior to constitute a 5-member investigation committee to probe the matter, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
The scandal came to light when Saudi Arabian authorities discovered thousands of fake Pakistani passports in the possession of Afghan nationals working in the kingdom. These illegal documents were subsequently handed over to officials at the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh. In response to this alarming discovery, law enforcement agencies in Islamabad initiated a crackdown on the unscrupulous networks involved in the distribution of fake citizenship documents, particularly to Afghan migrants residing in the country.
According to reports, DG Immigration and Passports Directorate, Mustafa Kazi, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have taken up the task of conducting an in-depth investigation into this sad incident. Their combined efforts will be complemented by the newly formed 5-member investigation committee, whose primary objectives are to identify the culprits responsible for the manufacturing of counterfeit passports within Pakistan and trace individuals who aided others in traveling to Saudi Arabia with these fake documents.
The officers and employees involved from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADAR), Passports Directorate, and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will also be investigated.
A thorough report of the committee's findings is expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Interior within 15 days.
Reporter: Awais Kiyani