Senate Committee Uncovers Fake Pakistani Passports Issued to Afghan Nationals

The Senate Committee on Interior and Narcotics was briefed on Thursday regarding the identification of 1,296 individuals in Saudi Arabia possessing counterfeit Pakistani passports. Authorities confirmed these individuals were, in fact, Afghan citizens.

Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, presiding over the meeting at Parliament House, instructed the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to present a comprehensive report during the subsequent committee session. This report should detail the actions implemented against officials implicated in the issuance of fraudulent documents and the compromise of the national database.

The Senate standing committee convened under the guidance of Senator Rehman.

During the session, Senator Irfan Siddiqui inquired about the number of passports issued over the past five years to non-Pakistani citizens. Mustafa Jamal Qazi, Director General of Passports, reported that 1,296 individuals with illegitimate Pakistani passports were later identified as Afghan nationals.

“In addition, 45 further instances have surfaced,” he stated. The DG Passports further indicated that the individuals in question had been deported back to Afghanistan. He also noted, “Among those penalized for producing fake passports, 35 are assistant directors.”

Furthermore, it was revealed that a substantial number of fraudulent Pakistani passports had been created, predominantly originating from KP and regions around Gujranwala and Gujarat. “We lack data for approximately 4,500 passports, while 3,000 were created through photo manipulation, and another 6,000 were fabricated through unauthorized access to Nadra’s database. These 12,000 holders of counterfeit passports are currently residing outside Pakistan.”

The committee also addressed revisions concerning the expiration of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). Nadra’s Chief Operating Officer clarified that, in accordance with Nadra regulations, all CNICs must undergo renewal every ten years.

During the session, the chairman brought up the issue of unrelated persons being included in the family trees of genuine CNIC holders.

To combat this type of fraud, Nadra has instituted a new policy mandating physical verification of the applicant’s blood relatives, along with the biometric capture of family members.