Pandemonium broke out on the main Shahrah-e-Faisal on Monday when plain-clothed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials raided a foreign exchange company without notice and the private firm’s security guards mistook them for bandits.
A seven-member team of FIA Crime Circle had raided the money changer located near the Nursery Bus Stop on reports that the company was involved in illegal transfer of money through “hawala/hundi” system.
When the company’s owner asked the FIA team to show any legal notices, arrest warrants or any substantial evidence to prove that the company is engaged in illegal financial transfers, the law enforcement personnel tried to arrest the owner. However, when the FIA team asked the money exchange proprietor to surrender for arrest, the private guards opened fire at them, resulting in bullet injuries to an FIA official, identified as Gulsher Mugheri.
The firing inside the money exchange firm created panic in the surrounding area and the resulting chaos, lead to a traffic jam on one of the city’s busiest thoroughfare.
A heavy contingent of police reached the spot and cordoned off the area. However, the situation calmed down after the FIA officials introduced themselves to the police.
Talking to reporters outside the foreign exchange company, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Khadim Hussain Rind said that there are two issues; one is whether the FIA team has permission to launch raids without warrants or not; and the second of the guards’ opening fire at the law enforcement personnel.
“The FIA should explain why they raided the money exchange firm and if their action is legal or not,” he said. “The police will definitely investigate the firing incident and the case has been handed over to the Tipu Sultan police.”
“The guards involved in the firing can be arrested if the FIA proves that the action was legal and they showed their identity,” Rind added.
Talking with Pakistan Today, the firm’s owner, Malik Bostan, claimed that as the FIA team had no notice or warrants, their action was illegal. “After the Khanani and Kalia case, the FIA has made a business out of harassing money exchangers and demanding extortion.”
“When I asked them to prove their identity, they refused and manhandled me and my staffers,” he said. “The guards mistook them for bandits and opened fire at them.”
Bostan – also the chairman of Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP) –announced that against the illegal action of the FIA, money exchangers all over the country will keep their firms closed today (Tuesday). “I have called an emergency meeting of the ECAP today (Tuesday) to discuss our future strategy,” he added.
He said that he would lodge an FIR against the FIA officials and go to the court for action against them. “The money exchangers would protest against the FIA outside the Parliament House,” he added. Bostan said the money exchangers would also approach Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and President Asif Ali Zardari to apprise them about the highhandedness of the FIA personnel.
Meanwhile, the FIA Sindh Director assured that action would be taken against the FIA officials involved in raiding at the foreign exchange company.
