Before BRT probe...: FIA officials named for 4 countries

PESHAWAR: The process for appointment of officers in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s Immigration Link Offices in Italy, Dubai (UAE), Spain and Turkey were held in August three months before it was tasked to probe the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, a source told The News.

There were reports in the media in last few days that additional director anti-corruption FIA, KP Saeed Ahmad has been appointed at Link Office in Turkey to influence inquiry by the FIA into the BRT project.

A letter written on Aug 23 to all the offices and zones of FIA, however, shows process for filling posts of FIA offices in the four countries was started months ago. The letter sent by additional director Establishment, FIA stated a committee had been constituted to conduct walk-in-interviews of officers in BS-18 and BS-19 (both from the Police Service of Pakistan and FIA cadre except law officers) on Aug 29 at the agency’s headquarters. It asked the regional heads to send their willing officers to headquarters on Aug 29 for interview.

The process was completed in late Nov and the names of selected officials were finalised on Dec 6, source added. An office memorandum issued on Dec 6 mentioned two PSP officers and 9 officials of FIA cadre were selected for posting in different countries.

“For Italy, Asmatullah Junejo (PSP) was appointed counsellor with Raja Sabeel as assistant and Ameen Shah as driver. For UAE, Tariq Parvez was appointed counsellor, with Syed Zulqarnainuddin as assistant and Mubashir Hassan as driver. For Spain, Abdul Sami was apponted as assistant and Abdul Wahid Soomro as driver,” said memorandum.

According to memorandum, additional director FIA KP, Saeed Ahmad was appointed counsellor in Turkey while Yousuf Chandio was appointed assistant and Iftikhar Ahmad as driver at this office.

The source said inquiry team for BRT project was constituted on Dec 10 and deputy director Rizwan Shah was made its head and 4 inspectors and SIs as members. The letter said team would work under supervision of additional director FIA anti-corruption circle.

“I am not inquiry officer of BRT. Besides, my selection for FIA office in Turkey has no link with BRT probe as process for selection was started in Aug and finalised before Dec 6,” FIA Additional Director KP Saeed Ahmad told The News. He added selection of all officers was done on merit and after proper interviews.

A special team of FIA has been probing various points of BRT project on the directives of the Peshawar High Court. The FIA inquiry team has to complete the probe in the coming two weeks as the 45 days duration given by the PHC would end in mid-January.