LAHORE: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) chief Dr Sanaullah Abbasi has constituted a four-member joint investigation team to pursue the repatriation of a Pakistani fugitive abroad for his alleged involvement in transnational financial crimes and money laundering.

Two former FIA chiefs – Bashir Memon and Saud Mirza – have also been questioned in the case for allegedly facilitating the fugitive, Umar Farooq Zahoor, who is required by Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Pakistan since 2009-10 in various financial and other crimes.

According to a notification issued here on Tuesday, the team comprising FIA Punjab (Zone-I) Director Muhammad Rizwan (convener), the Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) director, the joint interior secretary and the Middle East director at the Foreign Ministry has been mandated to pursue efforts (with the UAE government) regarding the extradition of Zahoor and co-suspect Muhammad Zubair, and repatriation of two minors.

Former FIA director general (DG) Bashir Memon has already appeared before the inquiry team for allegedly facilitating Zahoor. He had sought record of the case/allegations from the agency.

Agency forms four-member team to pursue repatriation of Zahoor, recovery of minors

On Tuesday, Saud Mirza was summoned by the FIA in the investigation into the cases against Zahoor. “Mr Mirza also sought record of the case from the FIA probe team to join the investigation,” an official told Dawn.

Mr Mirza is facing allegations that instead of investigating Zahoor’s transnational crimes leading to money laundering, he unlawfully facilitated the fugitive in 2013-14 being the FIA head.

“In 2013-14, you (Mirza) in your capacity as the FIA DG and head of the NCB Interpol Islamabad extended him an unlawful favour by moving Interpol Lyon for cancellation of Red Notice which was issued against him on the request of DIG investigation Lahore police and FIA director Punjab. Pursuant to your unlawful request, Interpol Lyon canceled the aforesaid Red Notice,” the FIA said.

“It has surfaced from NCB Interpol Islamabad’s record that you [Mirza], without any justifiable cause, withdrew Interpol yellow notices issued for search and repatriation of abducted minors Zainab Umar and Zuneirah Umar (illegally removed from lawful custody of mother Khushbakht Mirza and transported abroad on counterfeit IDs/travel documents),” it alleged.

Meanwhile, investigations at the Interpol have also detected that Mr Memon entertained a request of a Spanish lawyer, Arantxa, on behalf of Zahoor and helped her in making the latter’s Red Notice controversial. Interpol Lyon while suspending the notice, issued on request of the Norwegian police, had quoted letters sent by Memon.

Mr Memon is on pre-arrest bail in this case.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2022