Daily Times

It is the irony of the fate that political appointments in key departments like the FIA have grossly hampered the process of accountability. The FIA was established to curb corruption and investigate white-collar crimes. Over time, some more important tasks like counter-terrorism, cybercrimes, and money laundering were assigned to the FIA. Recently, the political appointment of the incumbent FIA DG, who belonged to an influential family of Sindh has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. The major reason for this appointment by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in August 2017, was his anti-PPP past. His close relatives fought the elections against PPP. This DG had personal animosity with Mr Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairperson PPP, who kicked him out from Sindh.

Later, he was appointed as the FIA DG on August 4, 2017. His major task as the FIA DG was to malign and let down this department to the extent that entire credibility of FIA reached its bottom. The reason behind this was the JIT Report of Mr Wajid Zia, FIA ADG, which expelled Nawaz Sharif from the political arena for his whole life. He was given the task of pre-poll rigging in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. He immediately started obliging different political personalities by getting their favourites in FIA on a deputation basis, in violation of superior courts’ orders and rules. On September 8, 2017, he requisitioned 17 PSP officers, out of whom 11 were Sindh domicile holders, four from Punjab and one each from Balochistan and KPK. In violation of all rules, he once again took 19 police officials holding Sindh domicile, ranking from ASI to Inspectors, on January 15, 2018, to please the political entities of Sindh. In Baluchistan, for obliging political people, the present DG, who is at present on leave, violated all rules and orders of superior courts by taking in different officials from Balochistan police. One DSP Legal in Baluchistan Police, who was on deputation in Anti-Corruption Establishment Balochistan, was taken in the FIA as AD Investigation and given charge of DD Crime Circle Quetta. It is a sheer violation of service rules and regulations. How can a government servant, who is already working on a deputation to one department, move to another department on a deputation and get his cadre changed from legal to investigations? Is it not a mockery of rules, regulations and superior court order in CP 89/2011?

One inspector of Balochistan Police, who had remained in the FIA for about six years on a deputation and had repatriated in 2016, was again taken over on a deputation basis in FIA, in violation of the estacode mandatory requirement of completion of three years in the parent department. The FIA DG took 15 constables from Balochistan Police in FIA on a deputation basis, whereas the FIA has already started the process of new appointments against vacant posts. Everyone knows that in Balochistan, a person can become MNA, MPA or even a senator by merely getting a dozen votes, just like the former CM and Senate Chairman.

According to the Election Commission’s Rules, before general elections, every head of the department must be changed, but not in case of the present FIA DG. When he was about to be transferred from FIA as IGP Sindh, in a strange move, his transfer was stopped by the SCP, which ordered that he shall not be transferred from the FIA DG till the finalisation of Asghar Khan Case. Air Marshal Retd Asghar Khan (Late) fought this case till his last breath.

Before elections, neither the present FIA DG was changed nor any other PSP officer was transferred from the FIA. Due to his influence, the Establishment Division had to withdraw the transfer notifications of some PSP officers, who were transferred to different provincial police departments, immediately issuance after the next day.

A large number of important cases and enquiries, especially related to Utility Stores Corporation, OGRA and Housing societies, were closed during the tenure of this DG

During his two years, as of now, he has been on forced leave. Most of the major cases and enquiries were either closed or spoiled to the extent that they cannot attain convictions. The famous Asghar Khan Case, in which he was given transfer immunity by the SCP, was recommended for closure and he stated that there was not sufficient evidence available on record to be proceeded with. What a big joke of history? Evidence was available everywhere in the print media and electronic media. Even a mere Google search gives one plenty of evidence. Even some politicians paid back the received amounts.

In the Grand Hayat case, the FIA DG appeared before the standing committee and categorically stated that the allotment and construction of towers were illegal and also stated that some luxury apartments were even given to some politicians as gifts for a cover-up. He gave this statement in October 2017. But after a few weeks, he submitted a report that no illegalities were committed in the allotment and construction of Grand Hayat Towers and recommended the closure of the case, as illegally registered. The present chairman of NAB took a serious view and immediately contacted the trial court. Using his constitutional powers, he got it transferred from the FIA Court to NAB Court.

The case of Imtiaz Tajwar is a classic example of the abuse of authority. During his additional posting as NADRA Chairman, he misappropriated millions of rupees for personal use like personal shopping, even Umrah Tickets and Sadqas, which were paid by national exchequers funds. Before posting of the present FIA DG, the FIA, after conducting an enquiry, registered a criminal case against him. Later on, after the inception of the present FIA DG, he got the case closed against Imtiaz Tajwar, who was discharged from the case, and the FIR was cancelled.

In 2013, the government announced an Amnesty Scheme for smuggled vehicles. The purpose of this scheme was to legalise all non-customs paid vehicles available in Pakistan by paying a nominal customs duty within a one month. But in the shelter of this amnesty scheme, thousands of vehicles, which were not physically present in Pakistan, were registered illegally by the dealers with the connivance of customs officers. Before the posting of this DG, one case was registered at FIA Balochistan, against private persons and customs officials. Immediately, after his posting, he asked for clearance of some customs officers but when unsuccessful, the FIA DG ordered for the transfer of the case from Balochistan to Islamabad and got it closed.

There is a large number of important cases and enquiries, especially related to Utility Stores Corporation, OGRA and Housing societies, which were closed during the tenure of this DG and cannot be discussed due to a shortage of space. The present case of Judge Video Scandal is only a mini glimpse of how he manoeuvred and closed important cases and enquiries to prolong his tenure, as long as possible.

However, it is expected that Dr Mujeeb ur Rehman Khan, holding the current charge of the FIA DG, who belongs to a small province, has an excellent reputation and is a man of integrity, shall reopen and reinvestigate all such important matters, as he already took initiative by asking from all FIA offices for the provision of the record of all important cases and enquiries of the past three years.

It is for the PTI government to decide whether all such acts of the incumbent FIA DG fall within the definition of abuse of authority?

The writer is a senior journalist