ISLAMABAD, May 10: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has again obtained physical remand of Swiss visa official Ashir Francis, the main character in a visa scam, for further investigation, a senior FIA official told Dawn on Wednesday.

The accused has been in judicial custody in Adiyala jail but the FIA pleaded before a local court that it wanted to further interrogate the accused.

The official said that the court had accepted the plea and remanded the accused to FIA custody.

He said new cases were being instituted against the accused and for every case he would be remanded to FIA custody for interrogation.

A new case has been registered against Francis by the PS Secretariat two days ago for deceiving government official Ajmal Khan on the pretext of giving him a Swiss visa.

Besides Francis, who served as assistant visa officer in the Swiss embassy in Islamabad, four travel agents have also been held by the FIA on charges of human smuggling and tampering with passports of visa-seekers.

The official said the agency had come to know the whereabouts of another accused, Maj (retd) Ajmal, who had escaped to the United Kingdom.

“We have requested the UK authorities to expedite the case being proceeded by Interpol so that the accused could be repatriated to Pakistan as soon as possible,” the official added.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...