GUJR AT: The Immigration and Passport (I&P) director-general has transferred regional passport ofñce assistant director Zulfiqar All Iqbal on charges of `corruption` Sources said the transfer orders were issued after an FIA team quietly inspected the routine working of the passport office staff on Friday during which it verified complaints of corruption and misconduct.

The team found that several complaints submitted to the DG (I&P) against the officials were correct.

They said the senior officials, after the matter was reported to them, ordered the FIA team to take strict action against the staff found involved in exploiting applicants.

The team then raided the passport office, detained three agents and registered a case against four staffers (adata entry operator, delivery clerk, a guard and a peon) and agents while the assistant director managed to escape.

Following the raid, AD Zulfikar Ali was immediately transferred and Muhammad Hayat has been posted in his place.

No case has so far been registered against the transferred assistant director.

An official said an inquiry into corrupt practices and neecingpassport seekers had been ordered against the transferred official as well as against those who were already bool(ed.

Abdul Rehman a resident of Gujrat, claimed that he along with his aging mother had visited the passport office around a week back where a guard and a clerk demanded Rs1,000 only for entering the main office to collecta token ofhis turn.

He said the security staff had intentionally created a long queue while data operators were fleecing applicants by raisingunnecessary objections.