Pakistan Blocks Passports of Over 4,700 Nationals Involved in Criminal Activities Abroad

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has taken a tough stand against its nationals involved in criminal activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the Ministry of Interior announcing the blocking of passports for 4,700 Pakistani citizens currently imprisoned in the UAE.

According to official sources, this move comes after the UAE authorities provided detailed information regarding 5,292 Pakistani citizens serving jail terms for various crimes. Among those affected, 2,470 passports belong to individuals convicted of drug-related offenses, while 100 are linked to cases of fraud, deception, and sexual harassment. Additionally, 704 passports have been blocked for individuals imprisoned for theft, and 216 for those involved in murder and robbery. The government has also revoked the passports of 375 Pakistani nationals residing illegally in the UAE.

This action is part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to clamp down on its citizens who are engaging in illegal activities abroad, signaling the government’s determination to address such concerns.

In a separate development, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) made significant arrests in connection with the issuance of fake passports. On November 2, the FIA apprehended 34 Afghan nationals attempting to travel abroad using fraudulent Pakistani passports. The suspects, who had entered Pakistan illegally through the Chaman border, were arrested in Peshawar after the FIA raided a hostel, uncovering the illegal network.

Further investigations revealed that the Afghan nationals had obtained fake identity cards and passports through agents operating in Pakistan. In a subsequent operation, the FIA arrested three more individuals involved in the illegal issuance of these documents. The suspects were identified as agents working in collusion with officials from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

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In another major crackdown, the FIA arrested 15 people, including seven NADRA officers and several Passport Immigration officials, involved in the issuance of fake Pakistani passports to Afghan nationals. The operation, which was launched in response to complaints from NADRA and the Passport Office, led to the arrest of four agents and five Afghan nationals.

These actions reflect Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of its national documents and addressing the misuse of its identity systems.