FIA busts ring making counterfeit passports

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) Karachi conducted a major operation, cracking down on a network involved in producing counterfeit passports.

Four individuals, including an Afghan citizen, were apprehended during the raid.

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According to FIA spokesperson, the arrested suspects reportedly included agents and facilitators who helped clients obtain fraudulent passports. Authorities identified the accused as Mujeebullah, Hamad Ahmed, Muhammad Anis, and Ghulam Abbas.

Investigations revealed that Mujeebullah, whose real name is Zardad, is an Afghan national who entered Pakistan illegally several months ago. He allegedly attempted to acquire a Pakistani passport with the assistance of the arrested agents.

Reports suggest Zardad crossed the border with the intention of seeking medical treatment for his mother in Pakistan. However, he also managed to obtain a fake Pakistani ID card under the name Mujeebullah.

A copy of an ID card belonging to a woman named Amiran Bibi was also found in Zardad’s possession. During the raid, FIA recovered passport application fee challans and copies of identity cards from the other suspects.

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Additionally, authorities seized original ID cards, ATM cards, and Amiran Bibi’s death certificates.

The FIA has initiated investigations against the arrested individuals, and further arrests are anticipated as authorities identify additional members of the network. – INP