The official who headed a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) investigation into alleged illegal collection of Rs12 billion from citizens for document attestation has been transferred and posted as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD).
According to an official notification issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Ali Sirohey, Director General (CMU/Audit), has been transferred and posted as OSD with immediate effect and until further orders.
Senior journalist Azaz Syed shared the notification on X on Thursday, linking Sirohey’s transfer to the inquiry into alleged corruption in the document attestation process.
Syed said that the development came a day after details of the investigation were reported on Geo News and discussed on his programme TalkShock. He said that the inquiry report had highlighted alleged collection of Rs12 billion from the public through illegal channels for document attestation and alleged involvement of officials in the Foreign Office (FO).
“The very person who exposed the corruption was transferred from his position,” Syed said in his post.
Syed also questioned whether the silence of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar over the matter indicated “tacit consent” or “patronage”, while also raising the possibility that the two officials were in the United States (US) and unaware of the development. He said that he remained hopeful that action would be taken.
The transfer follows an internal inquiry by the MOFA into alleged illegal payments collected from citizens seeking attestation of official documents.
A four-member committee headed by Sirohey had investigated the matter and reported that around Rs12 billion was allegedly collected over one year through illegal channels. According to the report, citizens were allegedly charged up to Rs800,000 for document attestation.
The committee recorded statements and names of officials allegedly linked to the network. An official working in the Foreign Secretary’s Office was among those named, along with directors general of different wings of the Foreign Ministry, a former additional secretary and former diplomats.
The inquiry also examined the role of a private courier company, with officials cited in the report alleging that the company had links with a Foreign Ministry official.
Syed had reported that the inquiry report was sent to the Foreign Secretary’s Office in July but it was not forwarded to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or another investigative agency.
The report also stated that some officials allegedly linked to the matter were later posted abroad despite the committee’s recommendations.
Officials have yet to comment on the matter.
