Fake Marriage Scandal Tarnishes Pakistan’s Reputation

Pakistani National Behind €1 Million Fake Marriage Scam

Islamabad-(Raja Liaqat Ali)_Greek Cyprus is investigating a largest-ever sham marriage scheme involving 133 fake weddings in which a 39-year-old man, believed to be the Mastermind was arrested from Germany and extradited to Cyprus on 08 Nov 2024. The Mastermind, living in Cyprus as a registered student, is alleged to have led a network that arranged fraudulent marriages. The network consists of the nationals from mainly Greek Cyprus including few members of Pakistani, Portuguese and Latvian origin.

Earlier , on 29 January, Europol’s Operational Task Force (OTF) Limassol arrested 15 members of the gang among who 13 are from Cyprus. Action was taken following initial intelligence received from Portuguese authorities in November 2020.

The criminal network was also involved in human trafficking and money laundering activities, as well as forcing victims into bogus marriages for immigration purposes.

The suspects allegedly recruited women from Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Poland, Romania and facilitated their journeys to Cyprus, where the women entered into arranged marriages with Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens.

The sham marriage ceremonies took place in town halls around Aradippou, Livadia and Nicosia, Cyprus. The marriages were conducted across three municipalities: 107 in Aradippou, 25 in Nicosia, and one in Livadia while total is 133.

According to media reports , the Investigators believe the criminal organization, operating since at least 2017, generated over €1 million in revenue, charging up to €10,000 per marriage. The scheme aimed to secure residence permits in Cyprus for third-country nationals, enabling their subsequent travel to other European countries.

17 foreign nationals had been arrested (14 in Cyprus), with 19 others still wanted. Two separate trials are ongoing at the Larnaca Criminal Court, with a third against the recently arrested suspect.

The case represents the largest sham marriage investigation in Cyprus’s history, involving fake insurance documents and a complex pyramid scheme structure. Among those still wanted is one Cypriot national.

The only Pakistani involved in the crime is said to be the Mastermind of all network. Unlike Pakistan, where such issues are often relegated to obscurity, Cypriot authorities pursued the case with unwavering diligence, setting a precedent for accountability.

Pakistani Origin Member of the Gang

His identity has not been shared execpt that he is a Pakistani student but Pakistanis as a whole condemn such people and their acts always. He might have assumed he could evade justice, inspired perhaps by stories of high-profile figures from Pakistan who have fled accountability and thrived abroad. However, his calculated audacity unraveled when Cypriot police apprehended him in Germany, subsequently extraditing him to Cyprus for trial. His arrest has already led to a cascade of further detentions, with authorities intensifying their efforts to dismantle this illicit network.

This scandal has dominated headlines in Cypriot media, painting Pakistan in a grim light once again. It highlights a troubling pattern where individual acts of deceit amplify the nation’s collective notoriety. Visa restrictions by the UAE on several Pakistani districts, coupled with stringent scrutiny by Western nations such as the UK, US, and Canada, underscore the widening trust deficit.

Diplomatic Deficits and Lost Opportunities for Pakistan in Greek Cyprus

Adding to the complexity is Pakistan’s lack of formal diplomatic representation in European Cyprus. The absence of an embassy or consulate hampers bilateral engagement, while Cyprus itself is limited to an honorary consulate in Karachi, with visa processing routed through Tehran. In stark contrast, India enjoys robust diplomatic ties with Cyprus, facilitating thousands of Indian nationals to thrive in the country through legitimate means.

A Call for Reform: Addressing the Root Causes

The human trafficking crisis underscores Pakistan’s broader systemic failures. The unchecked exploitation of desperate individuals stems from deep-seated socio-economic challenges: widespread poverty, unemployment, and an outdated education system. Addressing these issues requires political will and prioritization, yet they remain conspicuously absent from the national agenda.

To restore its global standing and curb the misuse of international systems, Pakistan must embark on a path of comprehensive reform. Peace, prosperity, and meritocracy must no longer be abstract ideals but actionable imperatives. Until then, scandals like the Cyprus affair will continue to cast long shadows over the nation’s already fragile reputation.

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