MULTAN: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) could not complete an inquiry into an ATM cash withdrawal case lodged by a complainant who died one and a half years back.

As per details, Muhammad Ibrahim, a resident of Mohallah Kotla Tolay Khan, submitted an application to the Multan FIA deputy director on Sept 29, 2014, stating that he is an account holder of Habib Bank Limited, Samijabad Branch, with Account No 0447-0009894-01 and the bank issued him an automated teller machine card (No 421851086164001).

He said on Sept 11, 2014, he withdrew Rs7,000 through ATM and kept both card and cash in his pocket.

“I inserted my card into the machine of HBL, Husain Agahi Branch, between 9pm and 10pm on Sept 23, but the machine did not accept the pin code despite two attempts.”

He said on third attempt a notice flashed on the screen that his card was retained and he should contact his respective bank branch, but after a while the card came out of the machine.

He said at home when he looked at the card it was in the name of Ghulam Abbas.

He said the next day he went to the Husain Agahi Branch and informed its staff that his card was changed but the bank authorities refused to accept his claim. However, on his request the staff informed him about the balance in his account. The balance showed that from Sept 11 to 23, Rs618,742 had been withdrawn out of which Rs300,000 were transferred into two different accounts through the ATM card while the remaining amount was withdrawn through ATM.

“The same day I went to the Samijabad Branch of which I am an account holder and submitted an application to the bank manager for the provision of CCTV footage and necessary action,” he said. On Oct 29, the complainant moved the court for registration of a case after being disappointed from the FIA authorities.

The FIA staff informed the court that a complaint No. 175/2014 was registered with the agency and Additional Sessions Judge Ghulam Abbas Sial directed the deputy director to initiate an inquiry.

Although the inquiry was initiated on the direction of the court, complainant Ibrahim died on Nov 11, 2014, while the probe was under process.

Awais Amir, the son of the deceased, is now the complainant.

“One and a half years have lapsed since the death of my father. The inquiry is under way while the respondent bank has not provided the footage,” said Mr Amir.

He said he had lost hope for the recovery of the money as the FIA authorities are delaying the probe.

He has requested the prime minister, chief justice of Pakistan and the FIA DG to look into the matter.

Former inquiry officer and FIA Assistant Director Syed Irtaza Haider Shah said he had been assigned duty at airport and he was no longer probing the issue.

Shah said he had issued notice to the bank for provision of the record.

A spokesman for the Multan HBL regional manager said the complainant should contact the regional office for the redressal of his grievance.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2016