HERAT CITY (SW): Salam Watandar’s findings indicate that there exists massive challenges and corruption at the Herat Passport Department.
Herat remains one of the top business cities in Afghanistan yet obtaining a passport in this western province still proves to be a daunting task in the face of rampant corruption and shortcomings. In the past, local agents and influential figures would help almost anybody obtain an Afghan Passport in return for some cash via the local passport office.
Now, since the biometric passport are only being issued in Kabul, that aspect of the corruption has significantly diminished but obtaining a three-month passport in Herat still emboldens influential figures to interfere in the process. Khawaja Mohammad Akbar Seddiqi, Head of Passport Department in Herat blames influential figures for the interference. SW has obtained evidence about three official letters being written to the Police Department asking to issue 318 passports via the Passport Department.
Habiburahman Pedram, a member of the provincial council said that the council members can introduce only two people under specific situation to the police for obtaining passport. Responding to a question why has a letter signed by Kamran Alizai, Head of the Provincial Council has introduced over 300 people, Pedram said Mr. Alizai should be asked for it.
Kamran Alizai, said he was aware of the limit the provincial council has in terms of introducing people for the passport but he evaded the question why 318 people were introduced in a letter signed by him to the Police Headquarters?
There has been at least one proven incident when an Iranian citizen obtained an Afghan passport from the Herat Passport Department that speaks volume about the mismanagement going on there.
The Herat Passport Department officials however, claim due to lack of administrative cadres, the department could only consider 200 to 300 applicants per day. The Provincial Police Department on the other hand has asked for up to 7000 so far. Local citizens are made to wait for weeks to get the passport. Locals say those who can afford to pay get the process done within few days by bribing the officials around $ 300 for one time.
Baqir Jamshidi, a Herat resident waited to obtain a passport for two months but as he tried his luck in the capital Kabul to save time, he was imprisoned for applying for a “second passport” for 15 days. He was later released when authorities realized the man was innocent and just got caught in the technical issues.
ENDS
