ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two officials of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with an alleged multi-million-rupee scam involving irregularities in the document verification and apostille system.
According to the FIA, the arrested officials include an assistant director and an officer responsible for apostille-related matters. They were taken into custody during a raid conducted on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday as investigators expanded their inquiry into an alleged network involved in fraudulent document verification.
An FIA official told the BBC on Tuesday that the two Foreign Office officials were arrested during the operation. Their arrests bring the total number of people detained in connection with the case to 18.
The development follows an earlier operation by the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad, which on Saturday reported the arrest of 16 people allegedly involved in the production, distribution and use of fake apostille stickers, government seals and official documents.
The agency said raids were conducted at several consultancy and courier offices in the federal capital as part of the investigation. It further alleged that six officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were linked to the network.
The alleged scheme centres on the misuse of Pakistan’s apostille system, through which official documents are authenticated for use abroad. Investigators are examining claims that counterfeit apostille stickers, government seals and documents were produced and circulated through the network.
The FIA has described the case as involving alleged corruption and document fraud, while the investigation is continuing to establish the roles of the individuals arrested and determine the scale of the alleged financial losses.
The arrest of serving Foreign Office officials marks a significant development in the probe, as investigators examine whether internal access or official procedures were misused to facilitate the alleged production and circulation of fraudulent documents.
Authorities have yet to disclose the complete financial details of the alleged scam or announce the final charges against all those arrested. Further action is expected as the investigation progresses.
All allegations remain subject to investigation and due legal process, and an arrest does not by itself establish guilt.
