LAHORE: Agent mafia is active at the Abbot Road passport office branch in Lahore, where they take money from people in return for getting their passports made, it has been revealed.
Due to an extension in the deadline by the government, till January 24 to submit Hajj applications, the number of applicants applying for passports has increased. In view of this opportunity, the assistant director at the branch has started taking bribes in the guise of VIP protocol.
The staff of the Abbot Road passport office, under the patronage of FIA, is working in cahoots with the agent mafia.
All this is being carried out under the nose of assistant director, who was Abbot Road branch’s system in-charge and was later promoted to assistant director by Punjab Passport Office Director Ikhlaq Ahmed Qureshi.
Women and elders who refuse to give bribes stand in queues and suffer whole day.
Furthermore, there is also a lack of effective security system. Altercations between staff and applicants have become a routine matter.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal had announced to quash the agent mafia in the immigration department, but despite being near to FIA office, no action has yet been taken at the Abbott Road branch.
The aforementioned branch’s assistant director refused to comment on the issue whereas Punjab Passport Office Director Ikhlaq Ahmed was contacted but he was not available.