6, April 2005	Wednesday	26 Safar 1426

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PESHAWAR, April 5: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated an inquiry against two officials on charges of their involvement in human smuggling, it has been reliably learnt. Complaints have been made against Sayed Idrees Shah and his cousin Shahab, a calligrapher and clerk in the Directorate of Information, alleging that they had taken huge amount of money to arrange jobs for them in Saudi Arabia.

Fazle Khaliq alleged that Sayed Idrees Shah he had given Rs120,000 to three years ago to send him to Saudi Arabia to work there as a technician, but his employer sent him back, saying he did not want any technician for his firm.

Khan Mohammad alleged he had paid Rs140,000 to Shahab, cousin of Sayed Idrees Shah, last year on the promise to be sent to Saudi Arabia for employment.

Shahab neither sent him abroad, nor was he returning the money.

Sources told Dawn the FIA could not register cases against the government officials because the federal government had withdrawn FIA’s authority to take up cases under the Anti-Corruption Act.

The FIA used to proceed against government officials under Section 167 PPC, which has been transferred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

It was learnt that the FIA had invited both the parties to settle the issue instead of handing the cases to the NAB.