LAHORE: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General (DG) Bashir Memon has initiated action against the agency officials allegedly involved in human-trafficking and corrupt practices, according to a report in the local media.
The DG withdrew charge from 11 FIA officials, including two assistant directors, two inspectors and seven other low-ranking officials, directing them to report to the headquarters, besides ordering enquiries against them, which are underway currently.
Various officials including Mubashir Ahmad Tirmizi, Muhammad Abid Hussain and others were made Officers on Special Duty (OSD) to reprimand them for their negligence in duty.
The DG also formed a high-powered committee led by Director Cyber Crimes Cap (r) Muhammad Shoaib to investigate the assistant directors and inspectors. The committee would also finalize the case FIR (First Information Report) No 238/14 registered against FIA officials including AD Abid Hussain at the earliest.
In 2014, British High Commission had written a letter to the prime minister’s special assistant on aviation on that around 18 Afghan nationals including women had reached Heathrow Airport from Islamabad Airport with fake British travel documents.
On the orders of the then interior minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, the matter was investigated and an FIR No 238/14 was registered against FIA officials including Abid Hussain as he was the Shift In-charge on September 20 when Afghan nationals travelled to the UK.
Later, Abid not only got promotion but was also appointed as head of Anti-Human Trafficking Cell where his own case was registered in 2014. However, no action was taken against those FIA officials responsible for immigration clearance.
According to reports, the DG has initiated a countrywide crackdown against corrupt FIA officials soon after assuming charge of his office and forming his team. He has also prepared a future plan of action for FIA to rid it of corruption.
