Govt changes head of FIA sugar crisis JIT

Dr Muhammad Rizwan replaced with Abu Bakar Khuda Baksh as inquiry officer

LAHORE:

In an interesting development, the government has changed the head of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) led joint investigation team (JIT) probing into a sugar crisis.

The government on Monday notified that the FIA Lahore Director Dr Muhammad Rizwan has been replaced with Additional Director Abu Bakar Khuda Baksh as an inquiry officer.

Dr Rizwan had not only supervised the crackdown against the sugar mafia responsible for shortage of the commodity but also carried out investigations against PTI disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.

The officer was not only personally overseeing registration of cases against influential sugar mills owners and speculators but was also analyzing all the data and evidence received from the State Bank of Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other departments.

According to sources, the JIT led by Dr Rizwan had been threatened as well as offered bribes but it had continued its crackdown against the sugar mafia and the process of collection of evidence.

The sources said the JIT has already completed 70% of its work. They said Dr Rizwan will continue to be a part of the JIT but not as its head.

They said this development may have a link with a possible rapprochement between Premier Imran Khan and Tareen. When contacted, Dr Rizwan refused to comment. The FIA spokesperson also did not speak on the development.