ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaud-hry Nisar Ali Khan has given six weeks to Fe-deral Investi-gation Agency (FIA) to complete a probe into treason case against General Pervez Musharraf (retd) and expedite work on mega corruption scandals of EOBI, TDA, PSO as well as new Islamabad airport.
The Minister told media persons at a press conference on Saturday that he had directed FIA to expedite investigations into four mega corruption cases – Employees Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI)‚ Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)‚ New Islamabad Airport and Pakistan State Oil (PSO). He added that he had also asked FIA to finalise investigation into treason case of General Pervez Musharraf (retd) within a stipulated time of six weeks.
He said that FIA had so far made a satisfactory progress as far as investigations into Pervez Musharraf treason case were concerned and also got hold of important record related to the case. “Musharraf is presently under arrest in Lal Masjid operation case due to which FIA could not investigate him personally,” he said.
Nisar said Musharraf treason case and the four mega corruption cases would be investigated without fear or favour or political affiliation. He said the name of Musharraf was on Exit Control List (ECL) and would remain on it until asked for his name’s removal by the apex court.
Nisar has also directed FIA to create a cell to address complaints about corruption in government departments. The FIA would take action against corrupt elements across-the-board, he said.
After Eid-ul-Azha‚ he said, a System of Awareness and Protection would be devised jointly by National Accountability Bureau (NAB)‚ FIA and Transparency International to help check instances of corruption in government departments.
Interior Minster said that thousands of illegal mobile SIMs were being used for illegal activities. He directed secretary Ministry of Interior to hold meetings with the representatives of mobile companies to devise a strategy to address the issue. He also said he would himself hold meetings with heads of cellular companies.
The Interior Minister said that FIA had blacklisted 95 human traffickers and arrested 26 of them whereas the remaining would be arrested soon. He said he had also directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad to get rid of those police officials who had links with car-lifters, criminals and terrorists within two weeks. “According to intelligence reports, a number of police officials have links with car lifters, criminals and terrorists,” he disclosed.
He said reforms were being introduced in passport issuance system to facilitate the general public. “Now ordinary passport would be given to the applicant within ten days instead of twelve days while urgent passport would be issued after four days instead of five at present,” he said.
Nisar said home delivery system for passport was also being introduced as well as passport applicant would now be able to know the current status of his application for passport through an SMS system.
Nisar said over 2,000 official and diplomatic passports issued illegally had been cancelled with a stroke of pen without any discrimination. The official passports were issued to non-entitled people including personal servants and some of the foreign countries ended agreements for visa abolition with Pakistan because of misuse of these passports by some people, he said.