{
  "id": 8837683,
  "title": "FIA busts fake apostille network involving MoFA officials",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/fia-busts-fake-apostille-network-involving-mofa-officials-8837683",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T23:44:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2031436/fia-busts-fake-apostille-network-involving-mofa-officials"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Islamabad's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Corruption Circle has dismantled a network allegedly engaged in producing and using counterfeit apostille stickers, in cooperation with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) officials. The FIA conducted searches in several consultancy and courier offices located in F&F Plaza's basement, uncovering a sophisticated scheme involving the preparation, distribution, and use of fake apostille stickers, official seals, and documents. A criminal case has been filed against 22 accused individuals under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including Sections 420, 468, 471, and 109, which pertain to forgery, cheating, obtaining property by false pretenses, and criminal conspiracy. The inquiry revealed that consultants and courier service providers, such as Sophie Consultants, Excellent Courier Service, Leopard Courier Services, RAAK Consultancy, Noon Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, GM Consultants, and Fair Line Service, along with six MoFA officials, were implicated in this ring. Six private individuals and six MoFA officials, including those responsible for attestation and apostille matters, have been nominated in the case. The FIA alleges that the group extorted money from applicants under the guise of accelerating apostille and attestation services, while simultaneously offering bribes to MoFA officials. The presence of fake apostille stickers across the nation could result in substantial financial losses for the government. A court has granted a three-day physical remand for the arrested suspects. The investigation is currently being handled by Inspector Arsalan Masood Khan.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad has busted a network allegedly involved in the preparation and use of fake apostille stickers in connivance with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). According to the FIA Islamabad Zone, the Anti-Corruption Circle carried out raids on multiple consultancy and courier offices in the basement of F&F…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "FIA busts fake apostille network involving MoFA officials",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/fia-busts-fake-apostille-network-involving-mofa-officials",
        "published": "2026-09-20T23:44:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}