Mardan Visa Scam
Falak Sher
Mardan
Residents of Par Hoti Mardan on Tuesday accused a local agent of massive visa fraud, saying dozens of youths were deprived of crores of rupees through an alleged fake Canadian immigration scheme.
The victims have demanded immediate action from the authorities and refund of the money. While holding a press conference at Mardan Press Club, the victims claimed that Salim son of Saheb Gul, a resident of Par Hoti Mardan, pretended to be an expert in visa and immigration abroad and showed dreams of sending citizens to Canada and allegedly issued fake Canadian visas.
According to the victims, the accused pretended to be associated with the Canadian Embassy through an alleged fake email account and received huge amounts of money from people on that basis. The victims said that the accused used to target young people seeking employment abroad and made false promises of quick visa, employment and permanent residence.
He said that at least 50 people of Mardan district were directly victims of this fraud while the number of victims could be much more. The complainants alleged that crores of rupees were siphoned off as a result of this alleged fraud, while the amount recovered from the citizens of Mardan alone could exceed Rs 25 crore.
A victim said that many people sold their houses, properties and even agricultural lands in the hope of a better future but later found out that they had been given fake documents. According to the victims, considering the seriousness of the case, they submitted an official request to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), after which notices were also issued to the accused by the FIA Mardan office. He said that apart from the FIA, written complaints have also been given to the local police.
The victims further alleged that the accused’s father and brother were also involved in the alleged fraud and played a role in receiving money from the victims. At the press conference, the victims said that the accused also ran a language center and consultancy agency in Par Hoti, which was ostensibly used in the name of overseas education and employment, but was actually used as a cover for the alleged fraud.
The affected persons demanded from the Federal Minister of Interior, Provincial Government, FIA and other relevant institutions to take immediate legal action against the accused and his facilitators, arrest them and return the looted funds.
He also demanded that immigration, recruitment and consultancy agencies should be strictly monitored to prevent such incidents in future so that more citizens can be protected from fraud.
