MANSEHRA, April 4: The Federal Investigation Agency in a raid in the Laberkot area has arrested a prime suspect in a case involving sending about 70 Afghans for Haj on fake Pakistani passports, sources told Dawn.

FIA sources in Abbottabad said the suspect, Qari Arshad, had been arrested at his home here during an operation by the FIA passport cell, Karachi, and the regional office.

They said the accused had been taken to Karachi for interrogation after preliminary investigation.

They said the FIA passport cell in Karachi had detained about 70 Afghan pilgrims travelling with fake Pakistani passports on their return from Saudi Arabia at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport.

The Afghans, who were put in the Karachi jail, had confessed that they had got the passports and national identity cards from Qari Arshad.