LAHORE: In a major development, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Gujranwala has filed a case against 10 of its own officers and 6 private travel agents for allegedly smuggling over 40 Afghan nationals out of the country using fake documents. The accused FIA personnel were posted at Sialkot International Airport, and their involvement has raised questions over internal security and corruption within the agency.
According to documents available with The News, the investigation began when an Afghan citizen, who had travelled abroad from Sialkot Airport, did not return. Authorities initiated a verification with NADRA and the passport office to check the authenticity of the traveller’s identity documents. Both institutions responded with a startling revelation, as no record existed for the Afghan individual in question.
Later, it emerged that the case was not isolated, as more than 40 Afghan nationals had been illegally flown out of the country, similarly with forged documents. The probe further revealed that fake protector stamps—a mandatory clearance for overseas travel—had been applied to the passports of these Afghan travellers. These counterfeit stamps originated from multiple cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Malakand. The FIA wrote to the relevant Protector Offices to confirm their authenticity, but all offices confirmed that the stamps were fake and had not been issued by them. This led to a broader investigation into how such a large number of foreign nationals managed to bypass immigration checks at a major airport.
The role of the immigration supervisor on duty at Sialkot Airport is also under scrutiny and will be examined in the next phase of the inquiry. Based on the initial findings, the FIA formally registered a case against 10 agency officials and 6 travel agents. The accused FIA officials are Sub-Inspectors Asad Zamir, Salman Liaqat Warraich, Imran Shaukat Warraich; Head Constables Muhammad Shehzad, Muhammad Shehzada Latif, Fayaz Ahmed, Muhammad Owais, Muhammad Nawaz Safdar Ali; Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Saqib Ameer; and Travel Agents Zahoor Khan, Saleh Shah, Aslam Gulfam, Muhammad Danish, Khalid Khan, and Mikhail Bangash.
An FIA spokesperson stated that disciplinary proceedings have begun, and further arrests or suspensions may follow as the investigation progresses. “We are committed to rooting out corruption from within and will take strict action against anyone involved in human trafficking,” the spokesperson said.
Authorities are also investigating whether the smuggling ring is linked to international trafficking networks and how Afghan nationals obtained forged Pakistani documents for their exit. Due to ongoing instability in Afghanistan, many Afghans have sought illegal ways to flee the region, often falling prey to traffickers who offer escape routes through Pakistan.
This case highlights how deeply some trafficking operations may have penetrated official systems, enabling such illegal departures through fake documents. The case is closely monitored by senior officials, with findings likely to impact Pakistan’s immigration and border control.
