Federal Investigation Agency

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested four individuals, including National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) officials, for allegedly creating fake documents for Afghan nationals in Karachi. The suspects are accused of facilitating the issuance of false identity documents and altering records, with preliminary evidence suggesting links to terrorist elements.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) established a cryptocurrency investigation unit within its National Command and Control Centre (NC3) to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing through virtual currencies. The unit will collaborate with agencies like the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and Anti-Narcotics Force to address crypto use in cybercrime and drug trade.

Pakistanis residing abroad with invalid, expired, or cancelled National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs) are now barred from boarding flights to Pakistan. Airlines must verify NICOP validity before boarding, and passengers with expired NICOPs require a valid Pakistani visa to travel. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will monitor compliance, while concerns arise about the lack of expedited renewal services for affected travelers.

At least 64 deportees from Libya were convicted in three Punjab districts after summary trials for illegally crossing international borders. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecuted them, resulting in 10-15 days' imprisonment and fines of Rs25,000-50,000. The FIA has restricted the deportees' travel for five years and reported 172 convictions in illegal immigration cases over six months.

A judicial magistrate extended the physical remand of four suspects, including a relative of a senior political figure, by five days in a case involving the alleged abduction and sexual assault of two foreign women. The prosecution seeks to recover evidence like a vehicle and weapons, while defense counsel argued the case relates to a cryptocurrency dispute and criticized media coverage as a 'media trial.'

A resident of Ghotki, Abdul Wajid, was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for forging an appointment letter claiming to be a Grade-17 employee of the National Assembly Secretariat. The forged document bore fake signatures of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and was used to obtain undue privileges and harass citizens, prompting legal action and ongoing investigations.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested five individuals in Islamabad for allegedly smuggling human placenta from hospitals to produce anti-ageing injections. Authorities discovered 500kg of placenta in an illegal processing facility and intercepted a 100kg shipment bound for Vietnam. Suspects admitted under interrogation that the placenta was human, despite initially claiming it was from sheep.

The Lahore High Court ruled that creators or administrators of WhatsApp groups are not automatically criminally liable for members' posts, denying bail to a man accused of sharing blasphemous content. The court emphasized that liability arises only if an individual personally uploads or shares objectionable material, referencing Pakistan Penal Code and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act sections.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe issues with Islamabad's One Constitution Avenue project. The JIT, led by the National Accountability Bureau and including agencies like FIA and CDA, will report within 60 days. The project faced legal and financial disputes, including unpaid payments and unauthorized apartment sales, leading to evictions and court orders.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) failed to provide tobacco tax data to a Senate sub-committee, prompting demands for a 20-year record of tax collections and pending dues. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating Badshah Wazir's corruption case, which involves alleged smuggling of raw materials for tax-exempt areas.

Aleema Khan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the alleged solitary confinement of her brother, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, describing the conditions as unlawful and inhumane. The petition names prison and accountability officials as respondents and claims Imran Khan has been isolated for 22 hours daily without judicial authorization, citing deteriorating eyesight as part of the inhumane treatment.

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) coordinated the repatriation and humanitarian assistance of eight Iranian nationals rescued at sea by a British vessel. The operation involved collaboration with the foreign ministry, Pakistan Navy, FIA, Iran's consulate, and international stakeholders, highlighting Pakistan's commitment to maritime safety and regional cooperation.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) informed a Senate sub-committee that annual tobacco tax evasion is estimated at Rs40 billion, significantly lower than the government’s public claim of $1 billion. Senator Saifullah Abro criticized the discrepancy, demanding corrections to government advertisements and stricter enforcement against tax fraud, including potential arrests of senior officials.

The FIA's Immigration Wing prevented a government employee, Mohsin Ali, from traveling to the UAE using a fake no-objection certificate (NOC) at Multan Airport. The forged NOC was allegedly arranged by Naveed Imran, an official at the District Health Authority in Vehari. Mohsin Ali was handed over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Multan for legal action.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has disciplined over 100 officials for collusion with human smugglers since the 2023 Greece boat tragedy, which killed at least 209 people. FIA Director General Dr. Usman Anwar reported 132 investigations leading to 68 major and 36 minor penalties, alongside a decline in deportations due to stricter profiling. International concerns include illegal migration routes to the EU via Belarus, Cyprus, and Cambodia, with abuses of study visas and bonded labor reported.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established Financial Action Task Force (FATF) desks across all its zones and wings to enhance compliance with international standards on money laundering and terrorism financing. This follows Pakistan's removal from the FATF grey list in 2022 and aims to avoid deficiencies during the 2027 evaluation.

FIA Director General Dr. Usman Anwar stated that offloading passengers is a lawful measure to counter human smuggling and protect citizens, not restrict genuine travel. The FIA has reduced illegal migration through Malawi to zero and cut irregular EU flows by 64% by 2026, identifying Belarus, Cyprus, and Central Asian states as high-risk transit hubs for smuggling networks.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) faces disarray after a member resigned amid a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probe into price differential claims involving Rs14bn in questionable payments. The government is seeking legal cover to appoint civil servants to lead Ogra, despite its statutory autonomy, and has initiated amendments to the Ogra law to formalize this process.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested four individuals in Lahore for alleged involvement in illegal currency exchange, hawala/hundi operations, and copyright violations. During raids, FIA recovered Rs20.4 million in cash, foreign currency, and counterfeit products, as part of a broader crackdown on financial and intellectual property crimes announced by the government.