A three-member committee will investigate alleged misuse, examine courier companies’ role and determine whether Foreign Ministry officials were involved.
WEB DESK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has ordered an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ apostille and document attestation system.
Dar has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the matter after taking notice of a Geo News report concerning the system, which is widely used by Pakistanis for educational, legal and immigration-related documents.
Three-member committee formed
According to a notification issued by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Petroleum Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh will serve as convener of the inquiry committee.
Secretary Law Raja Naeem Akbar and Special Secretary Finance Qumar Sarwar Abbasi have been appointed as the other two members.
The committee has been directed to identify any misuse or irregularities in the apostille and document attestation process and examine the role of courier companies involved in handling applications.
Foreign Ministry officials’ role to be examined
The committee will also determine whether any officials of the Foreign Ministry were involved in the alleged irregularities.
It has additionally been tasked with recommending reforms to strengthen the system and prevent similar issues in the future.
The committee must submit its findings and recommendations within two weeks, according to the notification.
The Foreign Ministry’s Additional Secretary (Administration) has been instructed to provide the committee with full cooperation and access to relevant records and material required for the inquiry.
What is Pakistan’s apostille system?
Pakistan joined the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention in 2023, with the Foreign Office saying the move would make it easier for Pakistani public documents to be accepted internationally.
An apostille certifies the signature of a public official on a document, allowing the document to be presented to authorities in another participating country without requiring further attestation.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally launched its apostille system on August 21, 2024, with Ishaq Dar presiding over the launch ceremony.
The system allows applications to be submitted through five notified courier companies. The Foreign Ministry and its liaison offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Gujrat process apostille applications.
Foreign Office response to earlier allegations
The inquiry comes after media reports raised questions about the document attestation process.
In a September 17 briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the ministry rejected what it described as unverified and baseless claims concerning an alleged internal inquiry. The spokesperson also said the ministry was committed to transparency and accountability.
The spokesperson said the Foreign Ministry and its four camp offices process around 17,000 to 18,000 documents daily and that the apostille system had reduced the burden on applicants.
According to the spokesperson, the ministry had generated Rs3.4 billion over the previous two years through the attestation system, with payments made through online channels and point-of-sale systems rather than cash.
The earlier allegations and the government’s decision to establish the new committee should be distinguished: the committee’s inquiry is intended to establish whether any misuse or irregularities actually occurred.
