Islamabad: In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, it was revealed that over 1,296 Afghans nationals had been caught attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia using fake Pakistani passports over the past five years.
The session, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem, also saw a deferment of a briefing on the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), as the provincial home secretary and the inspector general of police were absent.
At the beginning of the meeting, committee members offered Fateha for the late Senator Taj Haider. However, concerns were raised over the absence of K-P officials, leading the committee to postpone the briefing until the next session.
Mustafa Jamal Qazi, Director General of Passports, informed the committee that out of the 1,296 individuals, 3,00 had used photo-swapped passports, while 6,00 had passports obtained through tampering with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) data.
Most of these individuals were deported back to Afghanistan, and none remain in Pakistan.
Qazi confirmed that punitive action had been taken against several officials from NADRA and the Passport Department, including 35 assistant directors.
Qazi also highlighted the financial struggles of the Passport Department, stating that despite generating Rs50 billion annually for the government, the department had to make repeated requests for its budget.
The committee also addressed concerns regarding vehicles with tinted windows. Excise Department Director Muhammad Bilal reported that since August, arrests had been made, and Rs33 million in fines had been imposed.
Read More: Strict Action Against Helping Afghans Stay Illegally in Pakistan
However, the committee questioned the legal framework under which these actions were being taken.
Ministry officials explained that no specific law existed on this issue, prompting the chair to suggest that a fee be established for such offenses.
The issue of illegal activities in Islamabad’s guesthouses was another key topic.
The chair expressed serious concern over some guesthouses operating as shisha cafes, bars, and drug dens.
The Islamabad IG assured the committee that action would be taken against these illegal establishments, and a comprehensive report on the actions taken would be provided.
Also Read: Over 100,000 Afghans Leave Pakistan in April
The committee stressed a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and requested a complete list of guesthouses in the city. Story by AHmed Mukhtar.
