Sharbat Bibi, the figure in the famous photo portrait “Afghan Girl”, was arrested on Wednesday in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar for having fake identity documents. The 40-year-old became known around the world after her picture, taken by Steve McCurry, was used on the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1985.
She was detained for having a fraudulent Computerised National Identity Card and possessing both Pakistani and Afghan ID cards.
“FIA arrested Sharbat Gula, an Afghan woman, today for obtaining a fake ID card,” Shahid Ilyas, an official of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), told AFP.
Ilyas said that FIA is also seeking three NADRA officials who were found responsible for issuing CNIC to Bibi, who have been at large since the fraud was detected.
He said Bibi faces seven to 14 years prison time and fine between $3,000 to $5,000 if convicted by court over fraud.
Bibi has been charged under Section 419, 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 5(2) of Prohibition of Corruption Act.
An FIA official said the officer who issued the ID cards to Sharbat Bibi is now working as a deputy commissioner in customs and got bail-before-arrest to avoid arrest in the case.
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