Lahore: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned another former chief Saud Mirza for Tuesday (today) to probe cases against a Pakistani fugitive abroad for his alleged involvement in international financial crimes and money laundering.
Former Director General (DG) of FIA Bashir Memon already appeared Before an investigative team for allegedly helping fugitive Umar Farooq Zahoor, who is needed by Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Pakistan since 2009-10, in various financial and other crimes.
In a call-up notice to Saud Mirza, the agency said that the current investigation by the FIA Lahore has revealed that the suspect, instead of probing his international crimes for money laundering, was “unlawful by the FIA in 2013 in avoidance of apprehension”. was facilitated from- 14 when you [Saud Mirza] was DG.
Saud accused of favoring fugitive Zahoor to avoid arrest in 2013-14
“In 2013-14, you (Mirza) in your capacity as the head of the FIA DG and [National Central Bureau (NCB)] Interpol Islamabad extended an illegal side by transferring to Interpol Lyon to quash the red notices issued against them at the request of DIG Investigation Lahore Police and FIA Director Punjab. In pursuance of your illegal request, Interpol Lyon has canceled the said Red Notice.
The FIA further added: “It emerges from the records of NCB Interpol Islamabad that you” [Mirza], without any just cause, withdrew the yellow notice of Interpol issued for search and repatriation of the kidnapped minors Zainab Umar and Junairah Umar (illegally removed from the legal custody of mother Khushbakht Mirza and on fake ID/travel documents) taken abroad).
The agency directed Saud Mirza to appear before an investigative team on Tuesday (today) and reply whether he has made any effort to investigate whether the offense is $12 million (Swiss Bank Fraud Zurich 2004) or $89 million. The Norwegian kroner (Nordea Bank Fraud Oslo 2010) has income. ) Pakistan was washed (directly or indirectly), as has already been exposed by NCB Interpol Bern and Oslo.
“Why did you consider the application submitted by Zahoor (a private person) for quashing of the Red Notice issued against him in clear violation of Article 33 of the Constitution of Interpol? Considering the fact that Zahoor had obtained protective bail from the Sindh High Court, the red notice issued for his arrest was only suspended/postponed to enable him to travel to Pakistan to join the investigation of cases against him. could have been done. Was it not an unlawful party to an internationally wanted fugitive/fraudster to cancel the red notice on the basis of protective bail obtained by him? Why did you, in your capacity as the head of NCB Islamabad, withdraw the red notice issued against Zahoor, despite the fact that the then Director FIA Punjab had categorically informed NCB Interpol Islamabad that he would file the FIR of FIA AHTC Lahore Was the number wanted in 464/2009? ” asked the notice.
Published in Dawn, January 4, 2022