September 15, 2006	Friday	Sha'aban 21, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has taken note that some Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials allowed people travelling on fake documents to enter the country.

This illegal practice surfaced when investigations into Nishtar Park suicide bombing in April revealed that the attacker was a Bangladeshi citizen who entered Pakistan illegally.

Sources told Dawn here on Wednesday that the suspect arrived at Islamabad International Airport carrying fake Pakistani visa but was cleared by the officials of Federal Instigation Agency (FIA).

During the investigation it was also revealed that some 800 Bengalis, including the suicide bomber entered Pakistan from Islamabad airport on fake travel documents with the help of FIA officials during the last eight months.

The FIA officials, including two sub-inspectors and some constables, deployed at Islamabad International Airport are taking $100-500 to allow illegal travellers enter the country on fake Pakistani visas.

The sources said that the ISI probe also revealed that hundreds of Bengalis entered the country on fake travel documents with the help of FIA officials.

The investigation suggested that most of the Bengalis were involved in different terrorist activities in the country, the sources said, adding that majority of them disappeared mysteriously and despite hectic efforts their whereabouts were still not known.

They said the Bengalis used fake sticker of Pakistani visa which was easily identifiable by the officials of FIA deployed at airports, however, they allowed them to enter the country after taking money.

The illegal practice of allowing Bengalis travelling on fake documents enter the country was introduced at Islamabad airport by one female FIA official — Nida — who was posted there from Karachi International Airport as a punishment, the sources said.

FIA Director General Tariq Pervez, when contacted, said that the agency was investigating into the arrival of Bengalis on fake documents in connivance with FIA officials, but the probe was not related to the Karachi suicide bombing incident.

He said an inquiry had been ordered on the directives of the “authority concerned” to identify the FIA officials involved in the illegal practice.

FIA is probing as to how many Bengalis are present in the country and their whereabouts, the DG said, adding that: “We are verifying their status from their embassies and Pakistani authorities concerned.”

Some cases of Bengalis entering Pakistan on fake travel documents with the help of FIA officials were reported, he said.

Mr Pervez further said the FIA official Nida had already been suspended and was being grilled.