KARACHI, March 9: Afroz Alam Lari, an industrialist wanted by Interpol for his alleged involvement in a scam in the UAE, was arrested here on Wednesday, a senior official said.

The arrest of Lari came more than a year after Interpol issued his red warrants when he managed to flee the UAE, although he had been asked not to leave the country.

“In 2009, he along with his aide developed a business partnership with some local businessmen in Dubai,” said SSP Farooq Awan of the anti-violent crime cell, which arrested the suspect from an area near Northern Bypass.

“He and his aide are accused of making payment of 45 million UAE dirhams through bogus cheques. They, however, left the country by the time it came to the notice of local authorities.”

The suspects were later found in Bangkok and handed over to authorities in the UAE, where they were awarded three-year imprisonment, said SSP Awan. He said the two suspects later managed to get bail from UAE authorities, but were bound not to leave the country till the final verdict.“But the two defied the rules and came to Pakistan using illegal channels that forced the UAE authorities to approach Interpol, which issued their red warrants. We were making efforts for their arrest and today on a an information Lari was arrested. Efforts are being made for the arrest of his aide,” added the SSP.

He said police would now hand over the suspect to the Federal Investigation Agency, which would then coordinate with local courts and Interpol to hand him over to UAE investigators, he said.

Although police claimed they had moved under the international laws, local industrialists came up with a strong reaction against the arrest of Lari, the founder and chief of a multi-billion group of industries.

“The case relates to a dispute over a property in the UAE between Lari and an Indian businessman,” said Usman Ali of the North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry.

“It's a false case, which is being heard by courts in Dubai. The Indian lobby used its influence and our authorities, instead of fighting it out, are using their own institutions against a leading industrialist.”

He said it was beyond comprehension that a leading businessman had involved himself in such a petty issue that could dent his business interests.

“We tried to contact the authorities concerned in Islamabad, including interior and commerce ministers, but in vain. To make our voice heard, a strike by industrial units remains the last option,” said Mr Ali.