Ghotki man held over fake National Assembly appointment letter

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Secretariat said on Saturday that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had arrested a man from Ghotki for allegedly using a forged appointment letter to present himself as an employee of the lower house of parliament and secure unauthorised benefits.

In a statement, the secretariat identified the suspect as Abdul Wajid and said he had falsely claimed to be a Grade-17 employee. It said he was using a fake appointment letter issued in the name of the National Assembly Secretariat that also carried forged signatures of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

The secretariat said the man had no link with the institution and that there was no record of his appointment or employment in the National Assembly. It added that the document in his possession was entirely fake and held no legal or official status.

According to the statement, the accused misled government officials and police by asserting the false status and allegedly obtained protocol and other undue privileges. The secretariat further said he was also reportedly involved in harassing and pressuring members of the public through different means, which it said had caused concern among citizens.

Legal action initiated on speaker’s directives

The National Assembly Secretariat said that, on the instructions of the speaker, letters were sent to the FIA director general and the Sindh inspector general of police, asking them to begin legal proceedings against Abdul Wajid. It said the FIA then moved quickly and took the suspect into custody.

The statement said legal proceedings were in progress and that investigators were also trying to determine where the forged appointment letter originated and whether other people were involved in the matter.

Secretariat warns against misuse of official documents

The secretariat described the preparation or use of forged documents in the name of the National Assembly Secretariat, the speaker, or any other official authority as a serious punishable offence. It also said obtaining illegal protocol, benefits or advantages on that basis would invite action.

It warned that strict legal measures would be taken against those involved in such acts without discrimination. The secretariat also asked the public and state institutions to verify the authenticity of any appointment letter, offer letter or official document said to have been issued by it through the relevant authorities.

It further urged citizens to report any suspicious activity or forged papers to law enforcement agencies so that misuse of the name of state institutions could be discouraged.