FIA Busts Major Visa Fraud Ring in Islamabad, Hundreds of Afghan Nationals Involved

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has cracked down on a large-scale visa fraud operation based in Islamabad, arresting key individuals involved in issuing nearly 100 fraudulent Saudi Arabian work visas to Afghan nationals using fake Pakistani passports, machine-readable Nigerian passports, and forged National Identity Cards (CNICs).

The Counter-Terrorism Wing of the FIA arrested three individuals—Muhammad Alam Zeb, Asif Khan, and Haroon Rashid—who played central roles in the scam. Alam Zeb alone allegedly facilitated 31 visas, Asif Khan issued four, and Rashid processed 58.

In coordinated raids, two additional suspects—Muhammad Ishaq Khan and Syed Ehsan Shah—were apprehended. Shah reportedly assisted 580 Afghans in obtaining fraudulent documents, while Ishaq Khan arranged documents for 22 others.

The FIA is now expanding its investigation to probe potential collusion by officials at the FIA Immigration and Passport Office and NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority).

Scale of the Scam:
According to the FIA, nearly 700 Afghans obtained fraudulent visas and identities through this network. The fake visas were primarily used for employment in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the transnational dimension of the racket.

This operation is part of broader FIA efforts to curb visa fraud, human smuggling, and related crimes. In December, the FIA intercepted individuals, including Afghan nationals, attempting to board flights with counterfeit visas, such as a Poland-bound flight using forged documents. Earlier this year, the FIA also arrested two agents in Peshawar for sending Afghans to Italy on fake Pakistani passports and uncovered human smuggling routes to Europe.

In Lahore, investigations led to the booking of 10 FIA officials and six travel agents for aiding 41 Afghans carrying counterfeit passports to Saudi Arabia.

National Security Concerns:
The dismantling of this scam has exposed vulnerabilities within Pakistan’s visa-issuance and identity system. The FIA has pledged to intensify scrutiny of government employees in passport and registration departments and warned the public to verify visa authenticity through official channels.

“This is not merely a scam—it puts national security and the credibility of Pakistan’s immigration infrastructure at risk,” the FIA stated. The investigation continues, with further arrests and legal proceedings anticipated.