By Tahir Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two persons and charged four others in a scandal of Pakistani visas to Afghan nationals on fake sponsorship letters, according to the firs information report (FIR) lodged by the anti-crime watchdog.
Two government employees, one working in the Press Information Department and other in the Foreign Office, are among those involved in the scam, the FIR said.
“A credible source informed that syndicate of Afghan E Visa agents headed by Samiullah Afridi, Naib Qasid at MoFA Islamabad (Owner of Al Quds Travel Agency) along with his accomplices namely Malik Muneeb ur Rehman (Travel Agent), Nadir Raheem Abbasi (Govt. employee in PID Islamabad) and Ahmed Afghani,” the report reads.
The report added that the financial transactions are routed through bank accounts of Abdul Aziz Afridi, cousin of Samiullah Afridi. Aziz has a car showroom at G-8 Markaz Islamabad and whose brother is an employee of MoFA.
It said approximately 40 million rupees have been deposited in a local bank account for the visas on behalf of Samiullah other than the accounts still unknown.
Another accused Muhammad Atif Ahmed Zai, resident of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province is running an online travel agency namely Storai Travels and Tours.
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“Scam involves identity theft and violates the legal requirement that sponsorship must be initiated by genuine and willing Pakistani nationals. Funds are transferred through informal channels of Hawala / Hundi hereby by passing formal financial systems,” the report said.
“Moreover, it is also a grave abuse of immigration policies in which MoFA and MOI own staff is involved and facilitating the scam which is detrimental to the security of the state as it paves way for the terrorists to get visa without any verification and ultimately leading action to innocent sponsor who has not idea of the visa sponsorship. It also blocks legitimate applicants and undermines the ‘One Document Regime’ policy of the State.”
The report said that agents namely Samiullah Afridi, Malik Munceb ur Rehman, Nadir Raheem Abbasi and Ahmed Afghani were hold a meeting in the vicinity of Islamabad and if timely raid be conducted they might be apprehended, red handed which will further unearth the network especially involving government employees in MOI in the subject scam which is violating the security of the state and harming state policies. They were also involved in providing fake sponsors and CNIC numbers to Afghan Nationals within 24 to 48 hours without the verification from intelligence setups.
They used to receive huge amounts from Afghan Nationals / Locals through the bank account of Abdul Aziz and amount sent through different other accounts. They provide some facilities to Afghan nationals including Tourist Visa (Urgent – 24 House on 750 US dollars (80% amount as commission of MOI Employee), Tourist Visa (within 10 days on 350 US dollars, Medical Visa on 350 dollars and Business Visa on 350 dollars.
A FIA raiding team consisting of Inspector Shabir Shah, SI Waseem Ahmed and FC Bilal Gardazi arrested an Afghan national named Atif Ahmed Zai along with Abdul Aziz Afridi at G-13 waiting for someone.
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The team found that Atif Ahmed Zai had no legal travel document for living in Pakistan. He is living in Pakistan illegally without having a valid Pakistani visa.
In their statements, they confirmed that Sami Ullah Afridi, Nadir Rahim Abbasi, Malik Muneeb ur Rehman (Afghan national) and Ahmed Afghani are their team members. They are all involved in providing Pakistani E-visas to Afghan nationals illegally.
Both persons stated that their team is providing visas to Afghan nationals and receive huge amounts for this purpose. “At the spot, the mobile phone of Abdul Aziz Afridi was seized in presence of witnesses. The prosecution report is being sent to FIA Islamabad through FC Bilal Gardezi for registration of case against the above mentioned 06 persons,” according to the report.
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The accused were charged under the Foreigner Act 1946, Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 & Pakistan Penal Code 1860.
The role of others will be trashed out during the course of investigation, the report said.