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Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has uncovered a serious visa fraud involving a senior Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officer, leading to the arrest of two individuals at Islamabad Airport. The scam involved using fake official credentials to obtain French visit visas, raising serious concerns over misuse of government authority.
The case surfaced when Muhammad Kamran and Aamir Shahzad were stopped during secondary profiling at Islamabad International Airport while preparing to travel to France. The two claimed they were FBR officials traveling on official duty and presented forged email correspondence to support their claim.
Upon verification, FIA officials discovered that the documents were fake and the individuals were not part of any official FBR delegation.
Further investigation revealed that a senior FBR officer, Atiq ur Rehman Chaudhary, allegedly abused his official position and government email account to facilitate foreign visas for private individuals. These included a driver and a property dealer, who were falsely shown as government officials to secure visas.
According to FIA sources, the officer reportedly received millions of rupees in return for arranging these fraudulent visas. An FIA official stated, “This is a clear case of abuse of power and forgery, carried out under the cover of an official institution.”
FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle has registered a criminal case against the accused officer and his accomplices under relevant laws. Kamran and Shahzad were taken into custody at the airport, while further raids and inquiries are underway.
The FIA is now reviewing all visas issued under the name of the FBR to identify additional beneficiaries and determine the full scale of the scam. Authorities say strict legal action will be taken against everyone involved.
This case comes amid increasing scrutiny of visa fraud networks in Pakistan, especially after tips shared by foreign embassies regarding suspicious visa applications. The scandal has once again highlighted the need for stronger internal controls and accountability within government institutions.
