NADRA officers have been arrested over large fake passport network in Balochistan. Authorities have arrested three officers of National Database and Registration Authority officers in Balochistan. They are involves in a major fake passport network involving Afghan nationals.
Investigators acted after uncovering evidence that linked the officials to the unlawful issuance of Pakistani identity documents to Afghans.
Federal Investigation Agency officials confirmed the arrests of Assistant Director Syed Anwar Shah, Junior Executive Syed Akhtar Shah and Assistant Director for the Chaman Zone Khawaja Waqas. FIA personnel took them into custody under arrest warrants issued by Judicial Magistrate 7 in Quetta.
Moreover, investigators learned that Afghan nationals obtained Pakistani identity cards and passports after paying significant sums. The scheme surfaced when the Afghan Embassy in Saudi Arabia returned 12,096 Pakistani passports to Pakistan’s Embassy in Riyadh. Afghan citizens had deposited these passports there for processing.
During verification, officials identified 7,613 passports unlawfully issued to Afghan nationals. The findings revealed collusion between Nadra officers and immigration staff. The discovery further damaged Pakistan’s international reputation and raised questions about internal security systems.
Additionally, FIA officials said that investigators earlier detained another Nadra officer, Ali Ahmad. Ahmad allegedly approved identity cards for 60 foreign nationals despite strict verification protocols. The latest arrests followed new evidence collected during the ongoing inquiry.
Meanwhile, Nadra sources said that one of the recently detained officers already faced a separate investigation. Officials accused him of selling citizens’ data to unknown buyers. Sources noted that this allegation deepened concerns about institutional vulnerabilities.
Furthermore, investigators expect more arrests as they review thousands of documents linked to the network. Officials stressed that strict action will continue against any personnel involved in identity fraud. They also stated that the inquiry aims to restore public confidence in the national registration system.
Authorities have launched additional verification drives to detect irregularly issued identity cards. They plan to expand monitoring mechanisms to prevent future misuse. The FIA also intends to work closely with Nadra to strengthen security protocols and close loopholes exploited by the accused officials.
