LAHORE, Nov 11: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) plans to raid various places of Mianwali to arrest Ayaz Khan Niazi, wanted in the land purchase scam of the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), Punjab FIA Director Zafar Qureshi says.

The FIA raided a few places in Naizi's native town of Khanewal and Lahore but failed to find any clue to his presence there.

Sources say Niazi's father Abdul Razzaq Khan Niazi (a former MPA), and brother Ali Khan Niazi (a former tehsil nazim of Khanewal) had already moved from Khanewal to their residence in the Defence area of Lahore, prior to FIA raids.

Now, the FIA plans raids in Mianwali believing that he might be hiding there with his Niazi relatives.

But one person, close to the Niazi family in Khanewal, told Dawn that Niazi might be in Karachi where he also has a house.

Niazi is wanted in the NICL scam and the FIA has ready arrested co-accused former minister Habibullah Warraich and others.

Mr Qureshi, who is probing into the NICL scam, said they would soon arrest Niazi.

He said the team had already raided places in Khanewal and Lahore on Nov 9 and 10 to arrest Niazi but “he is still at large”.

He said Niazi had been put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

“I am sure that he is in Pakistan and we will arrest him soon,” Mr Qureshi said.