FIA Nabs Ex-NADRA Official Over Fake Identity Card, Passport Fraud
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a former registration centre in-charge of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in connection with the fraudulent issuance of Pakistani identity cards and passports to foreign nationals. The high-profile arrest follows a comprehensive scrutiny of travel documents submitted by Afghan citizens in Saudi Arabia, exposing a deep-rooted identity scam operating within national registration channels.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Saudi authorities handed over 12,096 Pakistani ordinary passports previously submitted by Afghan nationals residing in the Kingdom. Subsequent forensic analysis and cross-verification revealed that thousands of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) were processed through compromised administrative credentials and forged documentation. Officials stated that the suspect facilitated illegal aliens in obtaining official citizenship papers by bypassing standard verification protocols and manipulating internal databases during his tenure.
The disclosure has raised severe national security concerns regarding the integrity of Pakistan’s biometric database and international travel documents. Bilateral ties and diplomatic trust with Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have faced strain due to the proliferation of forged documentation carried by non-citizens. In response, federal authorities have initiated a broader audit across multiple NADRA centers to dismantle criminal syndicates enabling human smuggling and illicit immigration networks.
The arrested suspect is currently in physical remand as FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle conducts further interrogations to identify co-conspirators, including active NADRA personnel and external agents. Legal proceedings have commenced under relevant sections of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act and the Pakistan Penal Code, with federal ministers promising zero tolerance against corrupt officials compromising state security.