The FIA Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad has exposed a visa fraud scandal involving a second secretary of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), authorities said.
According to the FIA, Atiqur Rehman, who is a serving second secretary at the FBR, fraudulently included two private individuals in an official government delegation by falsely presenting them as FBR officials, helping them to obtain French visas in exchange for Rs5.3 million.
The investigation found that the French Embassy was misled through official government email correspondence, which falsely verified the two individuals, Muhammad Kamran and Aamir Shahzad as FBR employees. One of the men is a driver, while the other is a property dealer, the FIA said.
Following the discovery of substantial evidence, the FIA registered a criminal case against the FBR officer and others involved. The agency has also decided to review visas issued to all FBR officers in light of the fraud.
Kamran and Shahzad were reportedly offloaded and arrested at Islamabad International Airport by FIA immigration staff on suspicion. Investigators said the illicit funds were transferred to the FBR officer through banking channels, and complete financial records have been secured.
An FIR has been registered at the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad and a formal investigation is currently underway. Authorities added that Atiqur Rehman will be arrested shortly.