LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested six employees of the Federal Health Centre for allegedly extorting money at a government vaccination facility for Umrah pilgrims.

The FIA Lahore launched an operation against a well-organised gang involved in issuing fake vaccination certificates and extorting money at a government vaccination centre for Umrah pilgrims.

An FIA spokesperson said during the raid on Saturday it apprehended six employees of the Federal Health Centre on Birdwood Road, Lahore, who were allegedly involved in fraud and extortion.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Dr. Shehzad Naseem (civil surgeon), Muhammad Akram (nursing assistant), Shehzad Mehmood (junior clerk), Umair Masih (sanitary worker), Waqas Masih (sanitary worker) and Noorul Hassan (naib qasid).

Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects, in collusion with each other, were accepting bribes and issuing fake vaccination certificates without actually administering the vaccine. “Authorities have started interrogating the suspects, and more arrests are expected based on their disclosures,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2025