Two Sentenced to 41 Over Fake Nurse Certificates
News Desk
RAWALPINDI: A Special Court (Central), Rawalpindi, has sentenced two accused to a combined 41 years in prison and imposed fines totaling Rs9.2 million in a case involving the use of forged experience certificates to send 92 nurses to Saudi Arabia.
Judge Abdul Rehman Muhammad Arif announced the verdict in Case No. 103/2024, registered at the FIA Anti-Corruption (ACC) Police Station, Islamabad, under relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Immigration Ordinance 1979 and Prevention of Corruption Act 1947.
According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the case involved the deployment of 92 nurses to Saudi Arabia on the basis of allegedly forged experience certificates. The nurses were subsequently deported from Saudi Arabia within a month.
Seven-year sentences under multiple PPC sections
The court sentenced accused Ghulam Zulfiqar Ali alias Mian Zulfiqar, son of Deen Muhammad, to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and a Rs100,000 fine each under Sections 420, 468 and 471 of the PPC.
He was also sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs200,000 each under Sections 18 and 22 of the Immigration Ordinance 1979.
The court ordered that all the sentences run concurrently.
In addition, exercising powers under Section 544-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the court ordered Zulfiqar to pay Rs9.2 million in compensation to the 92 affected nurses.
Each victim will receive Rs100,000, with the compensation to be distributed through the Director FIA, Islamabad.
Second accused acquitted of several charges
The second accused, Ghulam Farid, son of Muhammad Sadiq, was sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs200,000 under Section 18 of the Immigration Ordinance 1979.
The court acquitted him of charges under Section 22 of the Immigration Ordinance, as well as Sections 420, 468 and 471 of the PPC, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Both convicted accused were subsequently committed to Central Jail, Rawalpindi.
FIA investigation
The FIA said progress reports in the case had been regularly submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The investigation was conducted by a team comprising Sub-Inspector Kashif Riaz Awan, Sub-Inspector Ehtesham Gondal and AD Legal Salahuddin, under the leadership of Deputy Director Afzal Khan Niazi and supervision of the Director FIA Islamabad Zone.
The agency described the verdict as a significant achievement in its efforts against immigration fraud and human trafficking, saying the case reflected the investigation team’s evidence collection and preparation of the charge sheet.
The FIA said it would continue pursuing cases involving immigration fraud and human trafficking and bringing those responsible to justice.
