Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency raided consultancy and courier offices in Islamabad and booked 22 suspects, including Foreign Office staff, over counterfeit apostille stickers, forged seals and bogus verification services. Two days earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had formed a three-member committee to examine the Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille and attestation process after media reports alleged large-scale unauthorized collections from applicants.
Who it affects
Anyone holding or relying on a Pakistani apostille, especially overseas Pakistanis and employers or schools abroad that accept Pakistani documents.
What changes in practice
- Receiving authorities should verify Pakistani apostilles through official channels rather than accepting stickers at face value.
- Applicants in Pakistan should deal directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its camp offices, not third-party couriers or consultancies.
- Procedural reforms to Pakistan's attestation system are likely once the inquiry committee reports.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan / The Nation (reported; not yet confirmed by a primary official source).
