Sindh govt upset as FIA, NAB join hands against graft

KARACHI: To deal with corruption, a procedure has been finalised between Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the directions of Federal Interior Ministry, The News has learnt.
Well-placed sources of FIA said that according to the details of the said arrangement, in majority of the cases, initially FIA will conduct raids, collect evidence and after preliminary inquiry all the record will be handed over to the NAB for further procedure till the finalisation of the case.
FIA has been also given special powers to deal with the corruption matters of provincial departments. The sources said that the arrangement was made keeping in the view that FIA has more man power, sufficient facilities and expertise to deal with the corrupt elements.
The two major anti-corruption bodies have full back-up support of Rangers also. On the other hand, Sindh government is not happy with the actions of these bodies. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has also showed his annoyance on them publicly on various occasions.
After challenging the powers of NAB and NAB Ordinance, powers of FIA have been challenged by Sindh government officers in Sindh High Court (SHC). Sources of Sindh government said that the officers have started legal battle on directions of provincial government and not in their personal capacity.
Ghulam Mustafa Phul, Commissioner of Nawabshah (Shaheed Benazir Abad) division, and another officer of Sindh government, Asghar Abbas Shaikh, had challenged the NAB Ordinance and ongoing arrests and proceedings initiated against Sindh government officials through their lawyers Barrister Zameer Ahmed Ghumro and former federal law minister and Senate Chairman Farooq H Naik. SHC has questioned maintainability of the petitions.
Phul is on protective bail of SHC in a corruption matter.