FIA Uncovers E-Visa Scam Network for Afghan Nationals

A visa scam involving forged documents, illegal facilitation, and alleged official collusion has been exposed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

It has uncovered serious vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s e-visa issuance system.

The scam allowed dozens of Afghan nationals to obtain Pakistani visas using fake sponsorships and bypass immigration scrutiny.

It has already led to two arrests and an FIR against six individuals.

The FIA’s Anti-Human Smuggling Cell conducted a targeted raid in Islamabad’s G-8 sector and apprehended two Afghan nationals.

They were allegedly part of a sophisticated network operating from car showrooms, where they processed forged e-visa applications under.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the visa scam was spearheaded by Samiullah Afridi, a junior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He allegedly worked with Malik Muneebur Rehman, a travel agent, and Nadir Raheem Abbasi from the Press Information Department (PID).

The gang used stolen ID data and fraudulent sponsorships to push visa applications through the system in as little as 24 hours.

The suspects provided various visa types, including 10-day tourist, business, and medical visas, charging between $350 and $750.

They claimed they could secure urgent e-visas without the applicant undergoing any security clearance.

Most transactions were carried out via informal channels, allowing the ring to avoid financial scrutiny.

FIA officials confirmed that nearly Rs. 40 million had passed through a private bank account linked to Afridi.

The account was registered under his cousin, Abdul Aziz Afridi, who owns the showroom where the arrests were made.

Abdul Aziz is also the brother of a senior diplomat currently posted as deputy head of mission in Kabul.

One of the arrested, Atif Ahmadzai from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, was reportedly managing an online travel agency.

The agency facilitated e-visas using counterfeit documents.

He had no legal residency documents himself and was found to be living in Pakistan unlawfully.

The FIR states that Ahmadzai and Abdul Aziz admitted the scam was orchestrated in collaboration with Samiullah Afridi and other members.

Investigators believe the group’s illegal operations posed a direct threat to national security.

It has raised fears that the scheme could have enabled the unchecked entry of hostile elements.

Several of the fake sponsorships used real individuals’ names without their consent, potentially implicating innocent citizens.

The gang’s operation, FIA says, was not only criminal but an abuse of public trust and a serious breach of internal security.

Raids are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects. Further arrests are expected as authorities expand the scope of the investigation.