5,000 Pakistani passports seized in Saudi Arabia over alleged Afghan links, minister says

Profit by Pakistan Today reported that on Tuesday, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told lawmakers in the National Assembly that about 5,000 Pakistani passports had been confiscated in Saudi Arabia. The documents were allegedly obtained through Afghan nationals, and some holders were said to be linked to offences, begging among them. Chaudhry added that the government is prepared to share details of every passport that has been taken or examined.

He also described reforms already introduced to tighten the passport system and shorten issuance times. The Federal Investigation Agency arrested more than 100 agents over the past month, and criminal cases have been filed against officials accused of helping them.

Chaudhry said the government is working with Nadra to offer passport services at every centre, a step that would shorten queues at passport offices. He warned that any official or office found mistreating citizens would face action. He also rejected claims that passports for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa residents were deliberately delayed or withheld, and dismissed the idea that identity cards from Balochistan were blocked solely on grounds of a person's province or area.