GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has booked some officials of the regional passport office, including its former assistant director (AD), on charges of issuing passports to a man and his three children fraudulently on the basis of fake documents.

FIA Gujrat Deputy Director Ghulam Sarwar Warraich confirmed the registration of a case and said at least two of the suspects had been detained and an investigation was under way.

The passport office’s former AD Saeed Abbas, data entry operator Zaheer Sial, clerk Shakoor Haider, a citizen Abid Hussain of Nankana Sahib and some other officials were among those booked under different sections of the PPC.

The officials allegedly issued passports to Abid Hussain and his three children on the basis of fake documents. Using those passports, Hussain had flown abroad along with his children to avoid their possible handing over to their mother while a case was being heard in court.

The Lahore High Court had ordered the FIA to investigate the matter and take legal action on the application of the children’s mother.

Mr Warraich said the scope of investigation had been broadened to probe more officials.

Hussain had first got registration documents of his children issued through the National Database and Registration Authority by showing someone else as his wife on an address in Gujrat, and later managed to get their passports processed with the alleged abetment of passport officials.

A few weeks ago, the Interior Ministry had removed the entire staff of the passport office on charges of corruption and malpractices, and posted their replacements.

The incumbent assistant director at the passport office, Hayat Tarrar, said his office had nothing to do with the case as the matter was already being investigated by the FIA.

The next date of hearing of the case is Thursday (today) where the FIA officials would present the details of the investigation and action taken so far.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2022