FIA to move Interpol for Moonis’ extradition

The Anti-Money Laundering Circle of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore has approached its Islamabad-based headquarters for the issuance of a red notice with the help of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi in a money laundering and corruption case.

The agency has completed the legal process to arrest Moonis, the son of PTI president Chauhdry Pavez Elahi, abroad and bring him back to Pakistan. It is requested in the official correspondence that the Interpol be contacted for the red notice after getting approval from the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

The FIA’s Anti-Money Laundering Circle Lahore had lodged an FIR 18 of 2023 against Moonis on charges of money laundering and corruption and is continuing the investigation. Moonis has failed to join the investigation despite repeated reminders. A Special Judge Central Lahore had previously issued a permanent arrest warrant for the accused as an absconder.

FIA Lahore Director Sarfaraz Khan Virk has sent recommendations including complete case history and detailed red notice performa to the Additional Director General FIA.

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The agency pleaded in the recommendations that Moonis fled to Spain on December 28, 2022, via Flight No VIP755. The Special Judge Central-1, Lahore issued a perpetual warrant against the absconder on Jan 18, 2024. Approval has been sought from the Interior Ministry to arrest the accused from abroad.

A senior FIA officer said that all the processes for the red notice are complete and that the FIA headquarters after getting the ministry’s approval would send a request to the Inperol headquarters to issue a red notice to arrest Moonis.

The investigation process would be further extended after the PTI leader’s return, he added.

FIA gets new DG

Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir, formerly Additional IG of the Police Service, has taken charge as FIA Director General.

Immediately after assuming the charge, Jahangir announced his commitment to take action against the ongoing epidemic of human trafficking and cybercrime challenges in the country. He especially pointed out that “Strict legal action will be taken against those who share fake, objectionable and hateful content on social media and a zero-tolerance policy will be upheld against corruption.”

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The newly appointed DG FIA was previously serving in the police and had also served as Additional Director General in the Cyber Crime Wing.

He was welcomed to FIA headquarters by a contingent of FIA armed forces who saluted him. On the occasion, the DG FIA visited the martyrs' memorial and laid flowers. Later, he also held a meeting with the heads of various departments and senior officers of FIA.

The DG issued orders to pay special attention to the professional training of investigation and senior officers. “FIA should ensure honesty, duty and law enforcement and measures should be taken on an emergency basis to improve public service delivery,” he further added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2024.