PESHAWAR: The Federal Investi­gation Agency (FIA) and local police in a joint operation raided a currency market in Peshawar’s Chowk Yadgar area and arrested 45 dealers allegedly involved in hundi business.

Deputy Director Qazi Abdul Hameed told reporters that the FIA had sealed four buildings being used by these dealers. “We also arrested 45 people and recovered documents showing their alleged involvement in the hundi or hawala business.”

In a statement, Peshawar police chief Mubarak Zeb confirmed the raid and the arrest of 45 suspects.

Mr Zeb said that besides arrests of the people, the market from where this business was being done had also been shut down.

45 dealers held for being involved in hundi business

“Police will not allow any illegal business in the city and this operation will continue,” he said.

The raiding party was backed up by a large number of police and security personnel and officials of the Counter-Terrorism Department were also present on the occasion.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s apex committee, in its meeting in November, had discussed the illegal money transfer issue and decided to stop sources of terrorist funding and end hawala and hundi money transfers.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2016