KARACHI: Khalid Memon, former director immigration and passports, had been suspended on 20th March 2017, by a notification issued by Mohammadad Ziaul Haq, section officer at the Interior Ministry Islamabad, because his office was involved in extortion from the Chinese engineers working in Pakistan. He has been absent since then and has not reported to the headquarters, Daily Times has learnt.
Memon had been removed from his post by the Interior Ministry after an FIR was lodged against passport officials in Karachi on corruption complaints.
According to details, Ch Nisar was informed by the local businessmen that the passport office in Karachi was involved in extorting money from the the Chinese engineers working in the port city and its surroundings for CPEC projects.
An FIR was lodged in Anti-corruption Circle FIA office in Karachi earlier this year, after a complain filled by an official of Lucky Cement regarding bribe being demanded from the passport and immigration officials for extending visas to Chinese engineers working in their factory.
It is permanent to mention that the government has waived off visa extension fees for the Chinese workers. After the report; Mohammad Raman an LDC in Karachi who was nominated in the FIR was arrested and Sajjad an UDC in the Interior Ministry in Islamabad was also arrested because huge funds were transferred to his account from Ramzan’s personal account.
Inspector Shahbaaz who had been appointed was quick to indict both the persons in this massive scam which could have become a humiliation for the Pakistani government in front of the Chinese but he has completely failed to nominate the high officials of both the offices, obviously without their help this scam could have not been possible.
It has been learnt from reliable sources that Shabaaz has been taken care of by the section officer in Islamabad and the director immigration Karachi to clear them from all charges. Daily Times repeatedly tried to contact MR Saifullah Jokhio, the DD circle, to get the correct prospects of the case but he avoided giving his version by not answering the calls and messages.
Reliable sources within FIA have suggested that the outcome of this investigation can completely change if the case would be transferred to an honest officer in the Sindh Police or any other circle out side Sindh.
Khalid Memon was immediately suspended after the arrests of the passport officials in Karachi and Islamabad. Reliable sources have confirmed that the operation might have had the full support of the director but “he is being saved in the investigations”.
The sources have further informed that the scam of extorting money from foreigners had been going since long but it only came into limelight after the meeting of the business community with the minister.
It is permanent to be mention that Khald Memon who has not reported to the headquarters is still using the official car bearing No GP 9090 which was supposed to be returned right after his suspension.