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GUJRANWALA, Dec 6: As many as three officials of the Federal Investigation Agency, including a circle inspector, were suspended from service on charges of corruption and having connections with human smugglers on Tuesday. Reports said the federal government took a serious notice of the officials’ slackness, who failed to arrest some human smugglers despite provision of better facilities and ample staff. The authority concerned was ordered to conduct a probe into the matter.
It is stated that one Raja Ghaffar of Jalalpur Jattan was wanted by the FIA in a dozen human smuggling cases, but some agency officials, reportedly having contacts with the alleged outlaw, informed him about a raid in advance, resulting in his escape.
FIA Deputy Director Naeem Bharoka ordered a secret probe into the officials’ conduct which found them guilty. Mr Bharoka informed the high-ups of the probe findings and stated that some suspects had also been taken into custody who had contacts with these officials.
On the report, the higher authorities suspended a Gujranwala circle inspector, Ghulam Sarwar Warriach, sub-inspector Mushtaq Hussain and an ASI, Mushtaq Ghauri, from service immediately, and issued them show-cause notices.
Source said that an assistant director was also involved in the scam, against whom FIA’s Lahore director was conducting an inquiry.
OPERATION: Meanwhile, special teams comprising experienced officers have been constituted to arrest the human smugglers.
This was stated by FIA deputy director Akram Naeem Bharoka during a news briefing in his office here on Tuesday.
He said European and Asian countries pressed the government to launch operation against human smugglers as they defamed the country.
He said Gujranwala division was the hub of illegal activities and the decision of launching the operation was taken at a high level meeting.
It is learnt that FIA director Manzoor Ahmad and Gujranwala range DIG Zafar Abbas Lak had a meeting the other day and gave approval for the operation.
