FIA can lodge terrorism, money laundering and cybercrime cases

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has got the police powers and will be able to lodge cases of terrorism, money laundering and cybercrimes.
The federal government has enhanced the powers of FIA Anti-Terrorism Wing and a formal notification has also been issued by the Interior Ministry in this regard.
According to the notification, the jurisdiction of the police station of FIA Counter- Terrorism Wing is the entire country in the light of the FIA Act 1974.
The wing has been empowered to register cases of terrorism, cybercrimes and money laundering and take into custody anyone for 90 days all over the country.
The wing has also got powers of the Pakistan Protection Act. It is believed that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has approved the notification to make the FIA Wing more active, which is investigating high-profile cases like Dr Imran Farooq murder, the Mumbai attacks and Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. The FIA wing has also been empowered to pursue the cases that it will register.