FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad says private consultancy and courier firms allegedly worked with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials to facilitate fraudulent apostille services.
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Corruption Circle (ACC) Islamabad has registered a case against 22 suspects after uncovering an alleged network involved in the preparation, circulation and use of fake apostille stickers, official seals and documents.
According to the FIA, the action was carried out on the directions of the Director FIA Islamabad Zone following information received from reliable sources. An FIA team raided several consultancy and courier offices located in the basement of F&F Plaza in Aabpara, Islamabad, where investigators allegedly found evidence of the fraudulent network.
The agency registered Case No. 48/2026 under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
The FIA said its investigation found that owners and employees of several consultancy and courier businesses were allegedly involved in the network. The firms named by the agency include Sophie Consultants, Excellent Courier Service (ECS), Leopards Courier Services at F&F Plaza Aabpara, RAAK Consultancy, Noon Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd., GM Consultants and Fair Line Service.
According to the FIA, 16 private individuals associated with these businesses were named in the case. In addition, six officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including AD/APS Attestation, the officer in charge of apostille services and other personnel, were also allegedly involved.
The agency said the suspects allegedly collected substantial amounts from applicants by promising to expedite apostille and attestation services. The FIA further alleged that bribes were paid to officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the arrangement.
Investigators also found that fake apostille stickers had allegedly been circulated at different locations across Pakistan. The FIA said the circulation of counterfeit stickers could have caused significant losses to the national exchequer.
A relevant court has granted three-day physical remand of the arrested suspects, according to the agency. Inspector Arsalan Masood Khan will lead the investigation into the case.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Circle by a team comprising Inspector Arsalan Masood Khan, Inspector Hina Rabab Hashmi, Sub-Inspector Tabish Javed, Sub-Inspector Farheen Murtaza, Sub-Inspector Shehryar, ASI Safeer Kiyani, ASI Waqas, ASI Sohail Tariq and Head Constable Muhammad Uzair.
The FIA Islamabad Zone said it remains committed to bringing individuals involved in corruption and document forgery within government institutions to justice, regardless of whether they are private individuals or government officials.
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