FIA Islamabad arrests four suspects in two cases: one for fake overseas scholarships and HEC documents, three for issuing forged medico-legal certificates at PIMS Hospital after a trap raid.
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FIA Islamabad Zone Cracks Down on Education Fraud and Medical Certificate Racket
The Federal Investigation Agency’s Islamabad Zone has conducted two separate operations resulting in the arrest of four individuals. One suspect faces allegations of running a scholarship scam that targeted students seeking overseas education, while three others are accused of issuing forged medico-legal certificates at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital. The agency registered cases under the Pakistan Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and further investigation continues.
Scholarship Scam: Fake Promises of University of Nevada Admission and HEC-Funded PhDs
In the first operation, the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle arrested a suspect from Sialkot. The individual allegedly operated under the name “Broadway Consultancy” and deceived students by promising admission to the University of Nevada, Reno, along with Higher Education Commission (HEC)-funded PhD scholarships.
According to the agency, the suspect collected $10,000 from each victim. He allegedly provided forged documents carrying the name of the HEC, Pakistan’s higher education regulator. These documents were later verified by the HEC and declared fake. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. Investigators are examining the full extent of the network and the number of students affected by the fraud.
Trap Raid at PIMS Hospital Targets Fake Medico-Legal Certificates
In a separate operation on 21 July, the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle carried out a carefully planned trap raid at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad. An officer posed as an injured person and paid marked currency as an advance payment to obtain a fake Medico-Legal Certificate (MLC). MLCs are official medical documents frequently used as evidence in criminal investigations and court proceedings.
The suspects were arrested during the operation. The FIA alleged that the group issued fake MLCs in exchange for bribes. These certificates were then used to register false cases at police stations across Islamabad. In cases where no injuries existed, the suspects allegedly inflicted superficial cuts and stitched them to create fraudulent medical records that appeared genuine.
Key Arrests and Evidence Recovered
Mohammad Usman, a lower division clerk (LDC) at the Medico-Legal Office, was arrested while allegedly receiving Rs50,000 in marked currency. On his identification, a medico-legal officer and ward boy Rameez Akhtar were also taken into custody.
During the investigation, the agency seized old records of fake MLCs and recovered mobile phone data, including chats and banking transactions. These materials are expected to help establish the scale of the operation and identify additional individuals who may have been involved or benefited from the fraudulent certificates.
Court Proceedings and Next Steps
The court granted a three-day physical remand for the two male suspects. The medico-legal officer was remanded to judicial custody. FIA officials stated that further investigation is underway to determine the full network, the number of fake certificates issued, and any links to police stations or other institutions that may have accepted the forged documents.
Broader Implications for Students and the Justice System
These two cases highlight different but equally serious forms of fraud. The scholarship scam exploited the aspirations of students seeking quality higher education abroad, while the fake MLC racket undermined the integrity of medical evidence used in the criminal justice system. Both operations demonstrate the FIA’s focus on protecting citizens from organized deception in education and law-enforcement related documentation.
Authorities continue to urge students and the public to verify claims of scholarships and official medical certificates through authorized channels before making any payments or relying on such documents.
