The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has expanded its investigation into a case involving private individuals who allegedly impersonated Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers at Islamabad International Airport while travelling to France.
According to sources, the FIA has issued notices to a Deputy Collector of Customs and a customs constable, summoning them on Tuesday as part of the probe. The agency has also sought details of other customs officers and personnel who allegedly provided protocol to the suspects.
Investigators are examining how many individuals were granted protocol at the behest of a purported FBR officer over the past year, sources said. Customs officials deployed at Islamabad International Airport are reportedly providing protocol on the instructions of senior authorities and are allegedly rewarded with benefits, including continued postings, in exchange for facilitating such protocol.
According to FIA sources, Atiq ur Rehman, named in the first information report (FIR), obtained interim bail on Monday, while a local court has also remanded the arrested private individuals in this case to judicial custody.
It is pertinent to note that on Friday, FIA officials intercepted two passengers travelling to Paris and questioned them regarding the purpose of their visit. Analysis of their mobile phones revealed that both were in WhatsApp contact with a tax official who falsely presented himself as a Coordinator/Officer and Second Secretary of the FBR.
The suspect allegedly facilitated the procurement of French visit visas by misusing the name, position, and credibility of the tax authority. Investigators recovered documentary evidence of payments made for the visas, including bank transfer records. According to the FIR, the nature, frequency, and volume of these transactions indicate the receipt of millions of rupees for arranging visit visas under the guise of official government business.
The FIA stated that the accused used an official-looking email address and falsely portrayed the passengers as members of an official FBR delegation to secure French visas. The scam was aimed at facilitating illegal migration and potential asylum in Europe in exchange for financial gains.
The tax official is alleged to have received approximately Rs. 5.3 million from the two passengers through bank transfers made in installments. During interrogation, the arrested suspects admitted they were not FBR employees and were working as a driver and a property dealer. They confessed to contacting the tax official to arrange French visas, which were obtained by falsely presenting themselves as FBR officials.
The FIA has seized passports, mobile phones, laptops, travel documents, bank records, email correspondence, hotel bookings, and currency as evidence. Authorities have also approached the FBR to verify the alleged misuse of its official email system.