ISLAMABAD (HRNW): The Anti-Corruption Circle (ACC) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Islamabad has conducted a major operation, arresting 28 employees of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for obtaining government jobs through fake and fabricated educational credentials. The arrests were made on March 2, 2026, immediately after the Honorable Court SJC-II, Islamabad, rejected the suspects’ pre-arrest bail applications.
Legal Framework and Charges
The action follows the registration of Case FIR No. 109/2025 (dated December 4, 2025). The suspects are facing serious charges under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) 1947, including:
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Section 420: Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
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Sections 467, 468, & 471: Forgery of valuable security, forgery for purpose of cheating, and using a forged document as genuine.
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Section 109: Abetment of a crime.
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Section 5(2) of PCA 1947: Misuse of official authority and criminal misconduct.
Investigation and Financial Impact
According to FIA investigations, the accused were serving in various positions ranging from BPS-05 to BPS-14. By submitting forged degrees and school certificates, they allegedly bypassed the merit-based recruitment system to secure salaries, official ranks, and administrative benefits. This fraud has resulted in significant losses to the national exchequer and compromised the integrity of the public sector.
FIA sources indicate that the scope of the probe is expanding. Authorities are now scrutinizing the roles of the original recruitment committee members, verification officers, and the higher-ups who approved these appointments. The agency aims to determine whether these officials acted with gross negligence or were complicit in the scheme. The suspects will be presented in court today, where the FIA is expected to request physical remand to further the investigation.
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