Islamabad (nytoday): A major visa fraud scandal has come to light after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) revealed that private individuals were illegally granted French visas by posing as members of official government delegations. The investigation has exposed the alleged involvement of a senior officer of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), raising serious concerns about misuse of authority and institutional credibility.
According to the FIA, at least two private individuals were falsely presented as part of an official government delegation to secure French visas. These individuals, identified as Kamran and Aamir Shahzad, were shown in official records as FBR employees, despite having no legitimate connection with the department. FIA officials stated that formal emails were sent to the French Embassy to support the fraudulent visa applications, making the deception appear authentic.
Further investigations revealed that the individuals were, in fact, a driver and a property dealer. The FIA disclosed that senior FBR officer Atiqur Rehman allegedly received Rs 5.3 million in exchange for facilitating the illegal visas. The money was reportedly transferred through banking channels, providing documented evidence of the transaction.
The FIA Anti-Corruption Cell has registered a criminal case against the accused FBR officer and other individuals involved in the scam. Authorities believe the case may be part of a broader network exploiting diplomatic channels for personal gain. Officials are now examining whether similar fraudulent visa applications were processed in the past using the same method.
Kamran and Aamir Shahzad were arrested at Islamabad Airport while attempting to travel, and further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses. The FIA has assured that strict legal action will be taken against all those found guilty, emphasising that misuse of government identity and international diplomatic processes will not be tolerated.