Ministry unearths scam involving fake permits for use of tinted glass in vehicles.

ISLAMABAD -- The interior ministry has swung into action following disclosure of a scam involving issuance of fake tinted glass permits for vehicles by a group in the name of the ministry.

Sources told Dawn that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had been directed to investigate the matter and register cases against those involved, who had also created fake websites in the ministry's name for 'verification' through the quick response (QR) code scanner of the permits fraudulently issued in return for money.

At least one of such websites, ministryofinteriorpakistan.pk, is still active with options of driving licence and vehicle verification appearing just below the emblem and name of the ministry.

A crackdown against the fraudsters has been ordered by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah following a complaint by the additional home secretary Punjab.

Orders crackdown on group involved

An official of the ministry said no permit to use tinted glasses had been issued after a ban was placed on the direction of a court.

Campaigns had been launched in the past to curb the use of vehicles with black tinted glasses but could not yield positive result due to resistance from influential people.

The crackdown was launched against the use of tinted glasses shortly after the suicide attack at Marriott Hotel in September 2008. Later, a number of such crackdowns were also carried out.

In September 2011, it was announced that permits issued to owners of vehicles by the local administration and the interior ministry to use tinted glasses had been cancelled due to the prevailing security situation.

'Militants and criminals can use tinted glass vehicles for transporting weapons and explosive material into the city,' an official of the capital police...