ISLAMABAD— Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested six officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a case involving alleged fake apostille stickers, official stamps and document fraud.
The FIA Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad also arrested several private agents linked to courier and consultancy businesses. The agency registered a case against 22 suspects.
FIA Raids Courier and Consultancy Offices
FIA teams raided consultancy and courier offices in F&F Plaza in Islamabad’s Aabpara area.
During the raids, officials recovered fake apostille stickers, government stamps and related documents. The agency said the operation exposed a network involved in preparing, moving and using fake documents.
The case includes six Foreign Ministry officials and 16 private suspects, according to FIA information reported by local media.
The accused face charges under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The case also includes Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947.
A court has granted FIA a three-day physical remand of the arrested suspects. The agency said it has also sealed offices linked to the investigation.
Alleged Illegal Fees for Faster Attestation
According to the investigation, applicants allegedly paid extra money to speed up apostille and document attestation services.
FIA said some Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials allegedly worked with private agents in the network. Investigators are now tracing the source and distribution of fake apostille documents.
The agency said more arrests could follow as investigators identify other people linked to the case.
Internal Report Raises Rs12 Billion Claim
The arrests follow reports about an internal Foreign Ministry inquiry into alleged irregularities in the document attestation system.
A four-member committee led by Director General Audit and Inspection Dr Ahmed Ali Sarohi reportedly prepared the inquiry. According to reports, the committee alleged that citizens paid about Rs12 billion through unofficial channels in one year.
The report also alleged that some applicants paid as much as Rs800,000 to obtain document attestation through illegal channels.
However, the Rs12 billion figure remains an allegation in the reported internal inquiry, rather than a final court finding.
Foreign Ministry Rejects Unverified Claims
The Foreign Ministry has disputed reports about the alleged inquiry.
At a September 17 briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the ministry had no information or record of the “so-called inquiry” cited by the media. He called the claims unverified and baseless.
The ministry also said its official attestation system processes a large number of documents each day. According to the spokesperson, around 17,000 to 18,000 documents are attested daily at the ministry and its four camp offices.
The Foreign Office said apostille attestation began in Pakistan in 2024. It added that documents attested through the system are accepted by 120 countries.
Separate Probe Ordered Into Attestation System
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar ordered a separate inquiry into alleged irregularities in the apostille and document attestation system.
The three-member committee will examine possible misuse, the role of courier services and any involvement by Foreign Ministry officials. It must submit its findings and recommendations within two weeks.
The FIA said its investigation into the alleged fake apostille network is continuing.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate or authentication used to verify the origin of a public document for use in another country that recognizes the apostille system. It can apply to documents such as educational, personal and legal records.
