Police inspector, six accomplices held for running fake FIA cell

A Sindh police inspector posted in the Counter Terrorism Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on deputation has been arrested along with six accomplices by Nabi Bux police on charges of running a private cell and harassing citizens.

A raid on the cell located in the Saddar area led to the seizure of 136 costly mobile phones and 37,000 riyals, which Inspector Sattar Malik and his henchmen had snatched from a businessman recently. 

Last month, Inspector Malik had rented the office, where he along with 10 private persons started running the fake FIA cell. On July 28 he and his accomplices raided a businessman’s office located in the Central Plaza on MA Jinnah Road, manhandled the citizen and alleged that he was involved in the Hundi and Hawala racket.

Later, they collected 136 costly mobile phones and 37,000 riyals from the office and took the businessman to their cell, where they once again harassed him and warned that if he informed anyone about the incident, he would face dire consequences. 

The man was released after he was alleged to have been forced to pay a huge amount in bribery. The victim lodged an FIR (No. 124/2017) against Inspector Malik at the Nabi Bux Police Station, and that led to the raid two days ago.

When this scribe contacted the deputy director of the Counter Terrorism Wing, Badar Baloch, he confirmed the report but was reluctant to give any details. He suggested that the Nabi Bux Police Station should be contacted for further details.

The investigating officer of the case, Inspector Akbar Hussain, confirmed the incident and said Inspector Malik and his six accomplices were arrested by the station house officer of Garden.  He said those arrested would have been handed over to him by Monday night. He said he would investigate and ascertain as to how many similar cases the gang was involved.