ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior in Pakistan has instructed authorities to initiate legal proceedings against Afghan nationals caught in Saudi Arabia for possessing fake Pakistani passports and identity cards.
The Federal Investigation Bureau (FIA) sources revealed that notices will be issued under Section 18 of the NADRA ordinance to 12,500 Afghan nationals in light of these directives.
According to FIA sources, fake Pakistani identity cards were issued to 593 Afghan nationals from Islamabad, while a total of 5,500 Pakistani identity cards were issued from Quetta and Peshawar.
NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) authorities have officially started legal action against Afghan nationals found with fake Pakistani passports and national identity cards.
These Afghan nationals caught in Saudi Arabia with counterfeit Pakistani documents will face immediate cancellation and confiscation of the fraudulent documents. The use of fake identity documents poses a significant security and legal concern.
Pakistan Invites International Observers for General Elections to Ensure Transparency and Impartiality
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has extended an invitation to international observers for the upcoming general elections to provide feedback and reports on the polling process. The ECP stated that the approval of observers would be subject to security clearance, and observers would be required to follow advisories from the interior and foreign ministries.
The invitation emphasized the belief that the presence of international observers would enhance the transparency and impartiality of the electoral process and lend credibility to the elections.
The ECP further stated that organizations observing the election may submit reports on any irregularities they observe during the election and provide recommendations.
To qualify as observers, individuals must provide authorization from their organization, along with necessary documents, and must display an ECP-issued card at all times.
Applications for visas can be submitted on the online portal of the foreign ministry’s website, and an accreditation form is available for download from the ECP’s website.
The ECP also mentioned in the invitation that the elections have tentatively been scheduled for the end of January next year.
