RAWALPINDI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested on Monday five members of a fake media team which was intending to go to the United States on the pretext of covering the upcoming US elections.

FIA Director for Islamabad region Mazharul Haq told Dawn that when the FIA received a report that a group of five members was going to the US in the guise of media persons, a raiding party was formed to arrest the suspects.

He said the raid conducted in Islamabad led to the arrest of five persons — Adeel Inam, Naeem Akhtar, Muhammad Shahzad, Muhammad Faisal and Maryam Adeel.

The team consisted of a producer (originally a teacher), while the cameraman was a driver and second cameraman a farmer.

He said that soon after the arrests, the fake media team members revealed their facilitator Dr Tariq and Faisal Bashir who belonged to Lahore. “FIA Lahore has been directed to arrest the travel agents who made fake passports for the fake media team,” the FIA official said.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2016