The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) suspended on Sunday the shift in-charge at Jinnah International Airport (JIA) Karachi for helping Shahrukh Jatoi, the main accused in the Shahzaib murder case, to escape abroad.
Earlier, Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case of the murder of 20-years-old Shahzaib Khan and ordered the authorities concerned to arrest those who aided the prime suspect in the murder case to escape from the country.
A reliable source told Pakistan Today that FIA Immigration Circle had launched internal investigations after the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the arrest of all those who had helped Shahrukh escape.
“During initial investigations, the agency had received important clues about those who helped Shahrukh escape abroad. Based on the initial enquiry report, Immigration Additional Director Malik Subah Sadiq suspended JIA Karachi shift in-charge Inspector Iqbal from his post,” the source said.
“Inspector Iqbal was suspended and posted in FIA zonal office in Sindh,” he added.
He also said that it was yet to be determined whether Inspector Iqbal was suspended on negligence in the line of duty or for showing malign intention.
The suspension of FIA Immigration Circle shift in-charge JIA Karachi raised many eye-brows and had left a question mark on the performance of the FIA.
“FIA immigration authorities at JIA Karachi works in four shifts and every shift have 45 to 50 employees,” the source further disclosed.
“However, it was not confirmed weather Inspector Iqbal helped Shahrukh to escape abroad or someone in his shift helped the prime suspect during his escape,” the source added.
FIA Additional Director Malik Sadiq when approached for comments said, “Yes Inspector Iqbal, who was serving as shift in-charge at JIA Karachi, was suspended for helping Shahrukh to escape abroad.”
“Investigation has further disclosed that Shahrukh escaped under the cover of a VIP protocol,” Sadiq added.
“FIA Transport Cell has registered FIR against Inspector Iqbal and had started investigation from him. The shift in-charge had been suspended but the crime of the suspended officer would be proved when investigation into the case is completed,” Sadiq concluded.
AAMIR MAJEED
