FIA impersonators on prowl in Lahore

13 Swat merchants have been swindled by ‘currency inspectors’.


Fazal Khaliq March 28, 2011

SWAT:


Over a dozen traders from Swat have reported being swindled out of their money at Lahore bus stops by a gang impersonating Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials claiming to check for counterfeit currency.


Mohammad Ishaq, a cloth trader from Mingora, and his friend Malak were deprived of hundreds of thousands of rupees after they arrived in Lahore from Swat via Shahid Coach at 5am.

“At Batti Chowk, a white car stopped in front of us and two men got out and introduced themselves as FIA officials. They had walkie-talkies in their hands and asked to check our cash as they were looking for Pukthoons involved in making fake currency. I had Rs1,200,000 which I handed to them. They counted it and checked it and put it back in my pocket. They did so with my friend too.”

But a little while later, when they checked their money, it was not all there. “They had taken Rs600,000 of my money and half my friend’s. We looked for them here and there but could not find them. We went to a nearby police van and registered a report,” Ishaq said.

Ishaq and his friend returned to Swat after a few days without getting their money back. Theirs is one of 13 such cases involving merchants from the Swat valley alone. Some of them have complained of getting no assistance from the police.

Umar Khan, a cloth merchant from the Madyan valley, was also looted with his friend when he arrived in Lahore early in the morning. “We travelled by Daewoo bus and then got into a rickshaw for our hotel. All of a sudden a white car stopped in front of us and two men got out and asked us to show our money because they wanted to check for fake currency. They checked it, gave it back and sped off. But more than half of the money was gone.”

Khan and his friend went to Ichra police station in Lahore to file a complaint, but the police initially refused to register a First Information Report (FIR), he said. “I had a source in Lahore so they registered the FIR. We stayed there for 15 days and spent the rest of our money in hotels, but they never found the thieves.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2011.

COMMENTS (5)

Gulalai | 12 years ago | Reply and also shame on our governments that the public is being looted in the day time and they are sleeping sound
F.K. Modern | 12 years ago | Reply Of course this practice now made after R. Davis. This is the way of copying of R. Davis have walki takee with them and no body asked the identity before they hand over. The strange thing when one of our Swati handed over Rs.200,000/- how he got back Rs.600,000/- why he did not argue or return the the over payment of Rs.400.000/-. But it is also facts that every body knows in Punjab that coaches from Swat reaching early in the morning almost Namaze Fajar time and it is com and quite time for robbers. The Punjabies are jelous of Pakhtoon and specially about Swatis they thinking all the Aid made in US Dollars in Arabs are paid to Swaties. Punjab Police are doing nothing. Just think over R. Davis decisioon from the Court, made payment of wadiat and Vip Airflight took him to USA and the wadiat people destination is not known, otherwise the Punjab Govt. can stop the flight and the Judge is also went on leave. Woman died nothing happend by Punjab or Federal Govts. 4th Gentleman crushed by another consulate car and even the Punjab/Federal Govts. could not take possession of car and the killers. Now we Swatis have to do something ouselves because we should not hope from Govt. of Pakhtoonkhwa, Federal and Punjab..
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ