Islamabad( The COW News Digital)The Afghan e-visa corruption scandal has taken a serious turn as the Ministry of Interior removed several high-ranking officials allegedly linked to the illegal issuance of visas to Afghan nationals.
According to reliable sources, the scandal centers around a network involved in granting unauthorized e-visas in exchange for bribes. In a significant move, Deputy Secretary Visa Section, Ms. Shireen Hina Asghar, has been dismissed from her post. She is one of the key officials named in the preliminary inquiry.
The Ministry of Interior also confirmed the removal of Joint Secretary FIA Section, Adnan Arshad Ulak. Flight Lieutenant Asim Ayub has now been appointed as the new Joint Secretary, FIA Section. Meanwhile, Shafqat Ali Chachhar has taken over as the new Deputy Secretary, Visa Section.
An official notification regarding the new appointments and removals was issued earlier today by the Ministry. Authorities have confirmed that, so far, four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including law enforcement personnel accused of soliciting bribes.
Among the arrested are Sub-Inspector Waseem Ahmed and Constable Aqib Mehmood, both of whom were stationed at the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Islamabad. The duo was caught demanding a bribe from Zubair, an accused individual in FIA custody, during his physical remand.
Investigations revealed that the FIA officers had allegedly asked for PKR 2 million in exchange for facilitating the accused’s transfer to judicial remand rather than extended custody. These developments point to a wider corruption ring operating within the e-visa approval system.
The Ministry has pledged a full investigation and promised accountability for all those found guilty. This scandal has raised questions over Pakistan’s immigration controls, especially amid heightened concerns over cross-border human trafficking and terrorism.
The swift reshuffle and arrests mark a major effort to restore transparency in the visa issuance process. Observers believe further detentions and disciplinary actions may follow as inquiries expand.
The scandal has drawn widespread attention both domestically and internationally, especially as regional tensions remain high and scrutiny on illegal immigration continues to grow.
