RAWALPINDI: The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) director general on Monday suspended three officials of the agency over their involvement in an alleged attempt to smuggle mobile phones to Pakistan.

FIA DG Bashir Mamon said in a statement that legal action would be initiated against the FIA officials.

The three officials of the FIA inspector Javaid Iqbal, SI Akhtar Iqbal Gondal and Constable Waqas Bhatti were suspended on the directives of the DG and inquiry was launched against them. FIA DG also appointed director Immigration Nasir Mehmood Satti inquiry officer and directed him to submit a complete report to him.

Earlier, the Customs authorities seized 60 mobile phones from an FIA official who had collected them from an acquaintance to help him skip the customs counter at the Islamabad International Airport.

The sources said the customs clearance of passengers from Dubai was in progress when one of the passengers started heading towards the immigration counter, where he was received by one of the FIA officials.

The sources said the passenger handed his bag over to the official who kept it with him.

In the meantime, the passenger left the lounge after collecting his luggage, leaving his shoulder bag with the FIA official.

The customs authorities got suspicious when the FIA official carrying the shoulder bag of his ‘guest’ was leaving the lounge.

When the Customs officials put the bag to scanning machine they found a large number of mobile phones in it.

A customs official said they immediately called the air passenger back and investigated.

The customs official said they detained the mobile phones which were 60 in number, but the passenger was allowed to go.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2019