LAHORE, July 28: A judicial magistrate on Saturday extended for two days physical remand of four officials of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) allegedly involved in the Olympic visa and fake passport scam. A Federal Investigation Agency’s official produced the accused before the magisterial court and stated that they had been found innocent during investigation.

Magistrate Sohail Anjum, however, asked the investigating officer that as to why he did not declare the accused innocent in his written report. The IO sought time to submit written report for the release of the accused and asked the court to extend the remand for two days.

On the other side, defence counsel argued that the accused were not nominated in the FIR. He alleged that highly influential persons were involved in the scam but the government was protecting them. He opposed the FIA request for further remand and prayed that the accused should be released on bail.

After hearing both sides, the magistrate extended the physical remand of the accused for two days and directed the investigating officer to come up with complete documents of the case.

The accused included Muhammad Asif, Syed Wasif Ali, Mukhtar Husain and Faheem Ahmad.