June 19, 2013 | Shaba'an 9, 1434


Crack down operation launched against Nadra, passport officials

DAWN.COM
Published 2012-07-24 17:49:28

olympics-reu-670

-Photo by Reuters

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday arrested at least two dozen suspects, including deputy director and assistant director of Directorate general of immigration and passports, allegedly involved in a fake passport scam.

Yesterday, a British tabloid had allegedly uncovered a visa scam involving Pakistan’s Olympic contingent.

According to the investigations, a group of travel agents and a politician named Abid Choudhary, are involved in the scam which allows anyone to travel with the Pakistani contingent as support staff if they pay a certain amount of money.

Several raiding teams of the FIA launched a crack-down operation in Lahore and arrested at least two dozen employees of Nadra, immigration and passport office and several other independent agents.

Immigration/ passport office’s Deputy Director Shahid Iqbal and Assistant Director Mubashir Tirmizi have also been taken into custody for questioning.

The FIA has also confiscated records and computers of several travel agents.

Earlier, eight employees of Nadra have been suspended and Chairman Nadra Tariq Malik had ordered inquiry into the matter.

Related Stories

Suicide blast at Mardan funeral kills 28, including PTI lawmaker

US to hold talks with Taliban within days

NA session: Mazari calls out govt on drone attacks

Comments are closed.

Comments (19)

amj, usa
July 26, 2012 12:49 pm
Pakistani people please do something to stop all this, even if they catch this people they will come out of jail in few months and start again, who will stop all this before it is too late
amj
July 26, 2012 12:44 pm
pakistani people please do something for your country to stop all this
zstrading
July 25, 2012 12:12 am
I'm sorry to say, how can you expect fair trial in presence of Malik. We have a rule and regulation but only need implementation. But question is this who will be the first. Most of the cabinet members involved in corruption. Many cases still in under SC. Symble of corruption is President himself. Again we are expecting fair trial.......
saythetruth
July 24, 2012 11:48 pm
This shows the level of corruption in Pakistan at every level. Government officials treat their position as a business and abuse their power to generate money for themselves through bribery. Just looks at the scams from the former PM Glani son, Haj Minister to local MP's, MNA's almost all are abusing their positions. Bribery is being treated as soft crime and it eating our nations inside out.
syed
July 24, 2012 11:35 pm
The menace of corruption continues to destroy the Pakistani society, what to expect from PPP government as they are the original flag bearers of corruption which was injected into Pakistani system when PPP came to power in 70's. Honest and hard working Pakistanis should play a decisive role in getting rid of corrupt elements, even if they claim to be protector of democracy.
drkhalidfcps
July 24, 2012 7:01 pm
Seem s as if a very big thing has been exposed by FIA and other agencies. The fact is it is very common in NADRA, Passport department to give nationality to any one , from any where for a few thousand rupees. Employees have earned billions. Lacks of Afghan refugees are now having Pakistani IDs and Passports and are serving as government employees. Terrorists can get Pak ID and passport very easily and for a few rupees. Just go to any NADRA or any Passport office and try it. Touts will love to facilitate you. No verification needed if you pay handsomely.
S. Khan
July 24, 2012 5:11 pm
Shame of these people for bringing a bad name to our country.
sikander
July 24, 2012 4:03 pm
this has been going on for past 30 yrs. I remember several guys showed up in L.A with Olympic team, Later dis-appeared.. I know first hand as they came looking for jobs.
GMKhan
July 24, 2012 3:47 pm
We as a nation made another headline.Corruption in every sphere of our nation has become a hallmark.When there is no accountability, people go to any length to cheat the system.
King Cobra
July 24, 2012 3:35 pm
Its a shame that when UK news paper reported scam everyone is now ready to arrest culperts I am sure lots of people knew about them but no one was willing to come out to talk about that.. Its not just one case. This country to close to collapse and no body is to blame except people of Pakistan who close their eyes when they see any crime or scam but because they are coward but think maybe we have to get some benefit latter from these people.
riz
July 24, 2012 3:16 pm
make them an example... should be dealt with iron hand
humdard
July 24, 2012 2:54 pm
man another crush to Pakistan's credibility among world peers....sad
Riaz Murtaza
July 24, 2012 2:13 pm
What a corrupt people from the elite to the general public in Pakistan. I have almost lost my confidence on any of you ! Corruption is deep routed in the nation. I agree with Mr. Hassan Nisar that " hamari qaum ko corruption ki 'gurti' mili huwai hai ". I am an very patriot expatriate Pakistan who is 67 yrs old and have lived only 8 yrs of life in the country. I can count many of my actions and deeds being a patriot and I wish each and every Pakistani is at least like me. I have still not lost my faith, inshallah there will be peace and prosperity in the country. My earnest wish is that the politicians, parliamentarians and rulers should be from the poor and middle class.
Qureshi
July 24, 2012 2:11 pm
I really hope this is a genuine effort to catch the culprits/erradicate corruption and not a witch hunt against small fish in a pond of big sharks.
Jamshed Khan
July 24, 2012 2:09 pm
Get em!
G.a
July 24, 2012 1:49 pm
Crackdown, cover up or just rounding up the usual suspects?
Capt Khan
July 24, 2012 1:44 pm
Why blame NADRA or Immigration?
Zishi
July 24, 2012 1:35 pm
Damage has been done. It is everywhere in the news in UK and and God forbid if something happens now during Olympics, the world will be pointing fingers towards Pakistan. We all know what going to happen to these corrupt people. Nothing.!! The will pay buy their way out of this by paying bribes. They are making mockery of this country but no problem because they have got politicians and ministers behind them. And who can touch a politician in Pakistan. A massive embarrassment for Pakistanis living and working in UK. What a shame.
Iqbal Khan
July 24, 2012 1:32 pm
What have we created in the name of Pakistan?
Most Popular
#Title
1 Advice to Imran Khan
2 DAWN.COMRs503bn debt to be settled in two months: Plan ready to ease power crisis «
3 The crime that shook Karachi
4 Passport woes: Pakistani expats in Canada
5 William has Indian genes: study
#Title
1 Islam at war – with itself
2 How Pakistan can resolve its batting crisis
3 Leaving out Afridi for Champions Trophy was a mistake: Sidhu
4 Shafiq should replace Misbah as captain: Bakht
5 Pakistan end dismal Champions Trophy campaign with loss to India