FIA warns citizens against obtaining multiple passports

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency has cautioned the public that acquiring or holding more than one passport by hiding relevant information is an offence under Pakistani law and can lead to imprisonment as well as other legal proceedings.

An official said on Saturday that such cases commonly come to light when people try to get around travel-related restrictions. These include deportation history, placement on the Exit Control List, or earlier immigration violations.

According to the official, some individuals seek to secure a second passport either using the same identity or a different one while concealing the existence of a passport that has already been issued to them. He said this amounts to a clear breach of the law.

Legal provisions and penalties

The official said Section 6(1)(j) of the Passports Act, 1974, treats the obtaining of multiple ordinary passports through concealment of facts as a criminal offence. He said the punishment can extend to three years in prison, a fine, or both.

He added that there are limited exceptions under the law. These include cases in which a person may hold an ordinary passport together with an official or diplomatic passport, but only when proper authorisation has been granted and the relevant official record is complete.

Restrictions and detection

The official further said that people whose names are placed on the Exit Control List are not allowed to obtain another passport. He added that modern biometric systems and national databases have made it easier for authorities to detect such attempts.

He also warned that misuse of identity documents or efforts to obtain passports through fraudulent means may result in future refusal of passport issuance.

Advice to the public

The official advised citizens to report their passport immediately to the relevant authorities if it is lost, stolen or damaged. He said a replacement document should be obtained through the prescribed legal process rather than by concealing facts in an attempt to secure another passport.

The warning comes as the FIA reiterates that concealment of facts in passport applications is a punishable matter and that attempts to bypass legal restrictions can trigger criminal action under the existing law.