Fake FBR visas scam: FIA books tax official at Islamabad Airport
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered an FIR against a tax official (BS-19) at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Headquarters for allegedly facilitating visas of a European country to two individuals pretending to be FBR officials at Islamabad International Airport.
The FIA immigration staff has also foiled an attempt at the Islamabad International Airport involving fake representation of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) after intercepting two passengers who were attempting to travel to France on forged credentials.The FIA has also expanded the scope of investigation to check whether any foreign visas were issued under the name of FBR.
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In this regard, the FIA has registered an FIR against the involved FBR officer and two passengers, who attempted to go aboard under the guise of FBR officials.
Sources said that the FBR should immediately suspend the involved tax official under the E&D Rules and also thoroughly investigate possible involvement of other officers/staff or individuals at the Islamabad International Airport. Instead of FBR, the FIA should conduct an independent inquiry of the matter to investigate all involved in the scam.
Secondly, tax authorities must check the rationale behind officers/staff/inspectors posted at the same positions at the Islamabad International Airport for the last 4-5 years due to unknown reasons.
According to FIR No. FIA-ACC-ICT-3/26, registered at the Anti-Corruption Circle, Islamabad, two passengers i.e. Muhammad Kamran and Aamir Shahzad were intercepted by FIA Immigration at Islamabad International Airport while attempting to travel to Paris via an international airline.
During secondary profiling, the passengers introduced themselves as FBR employees and claimed to be part of an official delegation travelling to France to attend meetings and visit the European Parliament. They produced hard copies of alleged official email correspondence exchanged between a gmail account and a person claiming to be FBR Coordinator using the official-looking email address, with the subject “Re-Visit of FBR Officers to SARL LRP RESTO Paris France.”
However, upon verification, the passengers failed to produce any official letter, travel authorization, nomination order, or proof of employment from the FBR. Further scrutiny revealed that their travel plan included a pre-arranged trip from Paris to Barcelona on the same day, contradicting their stated purpose and indicating an intention to abscond within Europe and seek asylum.
Mobile phone analysis showed that both passengers were in WhatsApp contact with the said FBR official, who falsely projected himself as a Coordinator/Officer of the FBR. He allegedly facilitated the procurement of French visit visas by misusing the name, position, and credibility of the FBR.
Investigators also recovered documentary proof of payments made for the visas, showing bank transfers.
The FIR stated that the nature, frequency, and volume of these transactions indicate receipt of huge sums of money in millions of Pakistani rupees for arranging fraudulent visit visas by misusing a government department’s name and official standing.
The accused have been booked under sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 109 PPC, read with Sections 17, 18, 22 of the Emigration Ordinance and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, FIR said.
The two passengers were offloaded from the flight and handed over to FIA Crime Circle Islamabad for further legal action. Further investigation is underway to determine the full scope of the scam, identify other beneficiaries and facilitators, and examine similar visas issued by foreign embassies to individuals falsely claiming association with the FBR.
The investigation found that the tax official, who falsely posed as a Second Secretary of the FBR, had misused the name, position and official identity of the tax authority. He also used an official-looking email address to facilitate private individuals in securing French visas under the false pretence of being part of an official FBR delegation.
FIA officials stated that the scam aimed at enabling illegal migration and asylum in Europe in return for financial benefits. It has been accused that the said FBR official allegedly received around Rs5.3 million from the two passengers through bank transfers in installments.
The accused were offloaded from the flight and taken into custody. A criminal case has been registered against three persons and other facilitators under various sections including 419, 420, 468, 471, 109 PPC, and Section 22 of the Emigration Ordinance.
During the course of interrogation, the arrested suspects admitted that they were not FBR employees and worked as a driver and a property dealer, respectively. They confessed to contacting tax official to arrange French visas for them, who then falsely applied for visas by portraying them as FBR officials. FIA has seized passports, mobile phones, laptops, travel documents, bank records, email correspondence, hotel bookings, and currency as evidence. Authorities have also requested the Federal Board of Revenue to verify the misuse of its official email system.
Further investigations are underway to determine the full scope of the scam, identify other beneficiaries and facilitators, and examine visas issued by foreign embassies to individuals claiming association with FBR.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026