The Lahore High Court (LHC) has upheld an order directing an inquiry into Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials over allegations of illegally seizing cash, vehicles and documents from a British-Pakistani citizen.
Justice Jawad Zafar dismissed a petition filed by private citizen Akmal Hussain, who had sought the closure of the inquiry against FIA officials, including Composite Circle Director Saqib Sultan and Sub-Inspector Ajmal Hussain.
During the proceedings, Advocate Mian Dawood, representing British-Pakistani citizen Salman Babar, appeared before the court and presented relevant records.
The counsel told the court that Babar, who deals in vehicles in the United Kingdom, returned to Pakistan after 16 years and was allegedly targeted by rivals following a family dispute in the UK.
He alleged that the rivals bribed FIA officials in Faisalabad and used Akmal Hussain as a proxy complainant.
According to the counsel, FIA officials summoned Babar, his brother and other relatives to the agency’s police station.
He alleged that the officials forced Babar to transfer Rs1 million to a bank account belonging to his rivals while he was in custody. The officials also allegedly obtained stamp papers and prepared documents in favour of the complainant.
The lawyer said Babar subsequently approached the courts seeking cancellation of documents that he claimed had been obtained under coercion. He also approached the justice of the peace, requesting action against the FIA officials.
The counsel further alleged that the FIA officials responded by registering a fabricated visa-fraud case against Babar and his brother, involving an alleged transaction of £104,000, on the complaint of Akmal Hussain.
Dawood argued that Hussain failed to establish a money trail for the alleged amount or demonstrate the financial capacity to make such a transaction. He also claimed that the complainant had not provided evidence of the alleged payment.
The justice of the peace in Faisalabad subsequently ordered an inquiry into the conduct of the FIA officials.
Dawood urged the high court to dismiss Hussain’s petition and uphold the inquiry order.
However, Hussain’s counsel, Advocate Ajmal Adil, argued that the justice of the peace lacked jurisdiction to order the inquiry. He also contended that the order had been issued without properly considering reports submitted by the relevant officials.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Zafar dismissed the petition and upheld the order for an inquiry against the FIA officials.
The court expressed concern over the allegations concerning the officials’ conduct, observing that incidents of this nature could undermine public confidence in state institutions.
