Legitimate currency dealers not spared: FIA accused of overstepping its mandate

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has reportedly launched an operation against legitimate currency dealers across Punjab accusing them of being engaged in the illegal Hundi and Havala business. On August 24, 2015, presiding over a meeting of the federal Cabinet, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and federal enforcement agencies to take effective steps towards eliminating terror financing.
Subsequently, Ministry of Interior directed the FIA to launch an operation against those involved in Hundi and Havala as part of National Action Plan (NAP) approved by the federal Cabinet. Currency dealers from different parts of Punjab, ie, Gujrat, Sialkot and Gujranwala approached Business Recorder and revealed that they are licenced dealers'' of currency but the FIA officials have been conducting raids on their offices and registering cases of Hundi and Havala against them despite the fact they are not engaged in this illegal business. One of the currency dealers stated that the FIA is not even sparing the shopkeepers who receive foreign currency from customers against Pak rupees.
Giving an example, one dealer said that some customers who receive remittances prefer to pay in dollars, euros, and dirham or Saudi riyals to shopkeepers in lieu of rupees. The FIA is booking these shopkeepers under the NAP. "We have requested the high-ups to stop raids on currency dealers but there has been no let-up. We are being deprived of legal business of currency. Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan should take stock of the situation," he added. Interior Ministry enhanced powers of the FIA for success of the NAP but the agency officials are overstepping its mandate, he maintained. "Corrupt elements of the FIA are exploiting the public and the dealers," he concluded.