Foreign ministry and interior officials connected to the illicit Afghan visa trade: FIA
A significant visa scandal involving officials from the foreign and interior ministries allegedly aiding in the unlawful issuance of electronic visas to Afghan nationals has been uncovered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
In the most recent development, two additional suspects, Nader Rahim and Azizullah Afridi, were taken into custody by the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, increasing the total number of arrests in the case to four.
According to people familiar with the investigation, Mr. Rahim works for a government agency’s Press Information Department, and Mr. Afridi’s bank account was allegedly used to conduct financial transactions with Afghan nationals who were applying for unauthorized visas.
Two Afghan nationals, Atif and Ahmed Zeb, had previously been detained by the FIA after it was discovered that they were living in Pakistan illegally. Both suspects provided crucial information during initial questioning that suggested the involvement of government agents and middlemen.
The agency has also started a manhunt for two other people who are thought to be involved in the scandal: Malik Muneeb, a private agent who is accused of helping to issue phony e-visas, and Samiullah Afridi, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official. Currently, raids are being conducted to capture both suspects.
Additional FIA sources disclosed that reliable proof has been gathered that implicates some Ministry of Interior officials as well. In defiance of established protocols, these officials allegedly assisted in processing and approving visa applications.
“This indicates a coordinated network that took advantage of official resources to circumvent immigration controls, rather than a case of individual misconduct,” an FIA official stated.
In an effort to find additional possible anomalies, the agency has started closely examining e-visa issuance records from the previous 12 months. Additionally, investigators are looking into the suspects’ financial histories, especially those involving transactions made through Mr. Afridi’s account.
