FIA arrests IEIS Consultants owner in £4,000 UK student visa fraud case

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested the owner and chief executive officer of an Islamabad-based visa

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested the owner and chief executive officer of an Islamabad-based visa consultancy in connection with an alleged UK student visa fraud case involving £4,000.

According to the FIA spokesperson, the agency’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) Islamabad arrested Wasil Azad, CEO and owner of IEIS Consultants, from Bahria Town Phase-7. The arrest was carried out on the directions of FIA Islamabad Zone Director Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari.

The FIA said the operation was led by Inspector Muhammad Abdullah Kiani. According to the agency, the suspect allegedly resisted the arrest and issued threats to members of the FIA team during the operation.

Officials further said that Rs1.6 million was recovered from the suspect following his arrest. The agency has initiated further investigation to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the alleged fraud and determine the involvement of other individuals.

A case, FIR No. FIR-AHTC-ICT-753/26, was registered at the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Islamabad following Enquiry No. RE-194/2026. The case has been registered under Sections 18 and 22 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979, read with Sections 420, 506 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the complaint, Muhammad Zahid, a resident of G-10/1 Islamabad, approached IEIS Consultants in May 2025 for assistance in obtaining a UK student visa for his wife, Javeria Haider. The complainant alleged that the consultancy had assured him that the applicant would also have work opportunities in the United Kingdom.

The complainant stated that he deposited £4,000 through a payment portal link for Teesside University that had allegedly been provided by the accused. According to the FIA record, the payment was made against reference ID F5263792, which was generated on August 6, 2025.

The complainant alleged that despite receiving the payment and providing assurances regarding the visa process, the consultancy failed to submit the visa application before the September 15, 2025 deadline. As a result, the applicant could not travel as planned and the deposited amount subsequently became non-refundable, according to the complaint.

The complainant further alleged that when he sought an explanation and demanded a refund, the accused threatened him instead of resolving the matter. The FIA also stated that the suspect allegedly failed to appear before the agency during the inquiry despite being issued repeated notices under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

According to the FIA, correspondence with the university and available digital records have prima facie supported the allegations made during the inquiry. The agency said these records are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

The FIA has also mentioned the alleged involvement of associates identified as Salman, Zulqarnain and Ms Sadia, along with other individuals. Their exact roles and responsibility, if any, will be determined during the course of the investigation.

The agency said further proceedings would be conducted in accordance with the law as investigators continue examining financial transactions, university correspondence, digital evidence and other relevant material connected with the case.