ISLAMABAD – A startling internal inquiry into document attestation at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised allegations of massive network, with estimated Rs12 billion allegedly extracted from citizens in a single year through unlawful channels.
Journalist Azaz Syed shared findings of an internal report, pointing to what four-member inquiry committee described as a “mafia” allegedly operating around the document-attestation process. The committee, led by DG Audit & Inspection Dr Ahmed Ali Sarohi, investigated allegations that citizens were being charged exorbitant sums to get their documents processed outside official channels.
According to the report, some applicants were allegedly made to pay as much as Rs800,000 for document attestation through illegal or unofficial channels. The inquiry has also put spotlight on officials within the Foreign Office. The report reportedly contains statements and records relating to officials allegedly connected with the network.
Among those mentioned is an official working in the Foreign Secretary’s Office, while DGs from different wings, a former Additional Secretary and former diplomats have also reportedly been named in connection with the allegations.
The report further records allegations concerning a private courier company, with officials claiming that the company allegedly had links to a Ministry official. The findings are particularly important because Foreign Office has an established system for document attestation and, since 2024, has also authorised designated courier companies to collect documents for apostille attestation.
Perhaps the most consequential allegation concerns what happened after the inquiry was completed. Sources cited in the report said the findings were sent to the Foreign Secretary’s Office in July, but were allegedly not forwarded to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or another investigative agency for further investigation.
Even more questions have been raised over the subsequent postings of officials. According to the report, despite the committee’s recommendations, several officials allegedly linked to the matter were later posted abroad. The allegations raise questions about whether the inquiry’s recommendations were acted upon and whether the reported financial claims were subjected to an independent investigation.
Foreign Office spokesperson is yet to comment on the matter about the inquiry. The allegations remain subject to verification and any officials named in the inquiry report would be entitled to respond to or contest the claims.
The scale of the alleged collections, however, puts the spotlight firmly on one basic question: how could such a vast amount allegedly change hands through an official public-service process without triggering earlier intervention?
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