Lahore: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore Director DIG Dr. Muhammad Rizwan on Wednesday has written a letter addressed to FIA Director General (DG) Sanaullah Abbasi requesting him to cancel transfer requests from five of members from the Sugar inquiry team because they aren’t covered within the Rotation Policy 2021.
Dr. Rizwan sent a letter addressed to DG FIA that five assistant directors, including Syed Ali Mardan Shah, Umaid Arshad Butt Zawar Ahmed Shera Umar as well as Rana Muhammad Faisal are investigating numerous high-profile money laundering cases in FIA Lahore.
Concerning provision 4(1) within the FIA Rotation Policy 2021, which was issued by the interior minister the FIA director stated that the requirement for rotation isn’t applicable to the officers because their total duration of service does not exceed five years. This is much less than the time required to move an official from the province where he resides.
“It is, therefore, requested that these officers be allowed to continue at the disposal of Director Punjab-I, Lahore at their present/respective place(s) of posting,” Dr. Rizwan.
It is important to note it was reported on the 22nd of May that FIA director DG Abbasi was transferred to nine assistant directors, including the ones who were investigating prominent cases involving Shehbaz Sharif Jahangir Khan Tareen and others. Ali Mardan and Umaid Butt were investigators (IOs) on the matter that involved Shehbaz Sharif as well as Jahangir Khan Tareen, respectively.
However, during an event in the interior ministry on Wednesday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid claimed she was aware that FIA DG had issued transfer orders for FIA officials. When asked about the issue the minister responded that the minister didn’t know who was trying the transfer order to be canceled, and the reason behind it.
“Now only the prime minister can reverse these [transfer] orders [of sugar inquiry team] now,” the media said the minister stated that.
Under the direction of the federal cabinet, FIA is investigating the sugar industry over suspected money laundering of billions of rupees since the devastating sugar crisis struck the country in the month of January 2020.
