A Senate committee has decided to investigate serious corruption allegations against the Foreign Ministry. The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs took up the matter on Friday. Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan of the PPP alleged “corruption of billions of rupees” daily. He claimed this corruption occurs in the ministry’s document attestation process.
Document attestation, such as educational and marriage certificates, is a critical service. Overseas Pakistanis require these attested documents for recognition abroad. Senator Hassan stated that citizens face immense hardship obtaining a single signature. “Overseas Pakistanis are either running from post to pillar… or paying money for corruption,” he alleged.
He reported that people spend nights on pavements to get their documents attested. To solve this, he demanded immediate digitisation of the entire attestation process. Alternatively, he proposed authorising union councils and deputy commissioners to attest documents locally. This would decentralise the service and reduce burdens on the central ministry.
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Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar echoed the call for digitisation. “Is there a lack of resources?” he asked, suggesting the Foreign Office develop a dedicated mobile application. He questioned why the issue remains unresolved despite repeated complaints. “The higher-up in the Foreign Office does not want to let go of control, and the subordinate is running a shop,” Kakar commented.
The committee decided to formally raise the matter with the Foreign Office for an official response. Dawn has also contacted the FO for its comment on the allegations. Separately, the committee discussed a shocking claim by PML-N Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani.
He alleged a commander of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) performed Hajj and Umrah using a Pakistani passport. JUI-F Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman demanded to know who allowed the TTP to enter. Senator Kakar acknowledged shared responsibility, noting a Pakistani passport was also found with slain TTP leader Mullah Mansour.
