Former NADRA Official Arrested in Karachi for Getting Iranian Pakistani ID Card

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a former assistant director of NADRA over his alleged role in helping an Iranian national obtain Pakistani identity documents.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the arrest was made by the Anti-Human Smuggling Circle (AHTC) Karachi. The suspect has been identified as Ziaul Haq Arain, who had served as assistant director (technical) at the NADRA Mega Centre at Symmetry Chowrangi.

A case has been registered under FIR No. 273/2026.

He is accused of helping Iranian national Muhammad Akbar obtain a computerised National Identity Card by presenting him as a Pakistani citizen.

The case began when immigration officials at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi stopped two passengers travelling to Qatar. They were travelling on Pakistani passports, but their Pakistani citizenship appeared doubtful during routine clearance.

According to the FIA, the two men admitted during initial questioning that they were Iranian by birth and had obtained Pakistani identity documents illegally in exchange for money. Further investigation revealed the role of a former NADRA official in securing a national identity card for one of the Iranian nationals.

Investigators believe the matter may be linked to an organised effort to obtain identity documents, and that facilitators both inside and outside the registration system may be involved.

The FIA says the arrested suspect is still being questioned, and NADRA records and related documents are being verified. The agency is also searching for other officials, agents and facilitators, and said the investigation will continue until everyone involved in the network has been identified.