Foreign Office said that an official of the Ministry was in the custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for his alleged involvement in some unlawful activities. "On a reference by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NAB has been conducting investigations against Shafqat Cheema, Director in the Ministry for his alleged involvement in some unlawful activities. After following due process NAB arrested the officer, yesterday [Tuesday], Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said in response to media queries.
According to him, the Ministry is extending full cooperation to NAB in the spirit of accountability and fulfilment of due process of law. "Cheema was first arrested in 1997 on charges of car theft. He was subsequently dismissed from service in 1998, but was later reinstated by the Federal Service Tribunal in 2000", he said. Due to his continued undesirable activities, Zakaria said that the official's services were placed at the disposal of Establishment Division in 2007. On his plea, the Federal Service Tribunal transferred his services back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2008, he said, adding the Ministry placed a ban on his foreign postings and he could not earn any promotion as well due to his conduct. Currently he was un-assigned, the spokesperson added.