Heads roll in FIA over corruption and lapses

A number of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials have been dismissed, demoted or censured for a number of offenses including negligence that contributed to the 2023 Greece boat tragedy in which over 200 Pakistani migrants lost their lives.

According to government sources, the Interior and Narcotics Control secretary carried out the accountability process and issued orders for various penalties.

The officials were dismissed over various charges ranging from criminal negligence and corruption to unprofessional conduct. The secretary also rejected multiple appeals. Sources said the secretary conducted a case-by-case review of departmental accountability proceedings and appeals.

In the Greece boat tragedy case, a deputy director and two assistant directors posted at Karachi Airport were dismissed after charges of negligence were proven. An assistant director posted at Faisalabad Airport was also dismissed on similar negligence charges in the same case.

At Multan Airport, a deputy director was demoted—with a reduction in rank and pay for three years—over alleged links with human traffickers.

Likewise, two senior investigators were dismissed for poor investigation, while an assistant database administrator was terminated over negligence and carelessness.

Four assistant directors and one inspector were penalised for absenteeism, negligence, and poor investigation, receiving reductions in their basic pay scale for one to three years. At Islamabad Airport, an assistant director and an inspector were awarded censure for mishandling a prisoner.

The secretary for Interior and Narcotics Control also rejected the appeals of six sub-inspectors, one ASI, three head constables, and five constables, upholding their dismissal from service.

Similarly, the appeal of a lower division clerk (LDC) was rejected, and the dismissal order for absenteeism was maintained. However, in the appeals of a superintendent and a sub-inspector, the earlier penalty of withholding promotion was modified and converted into a censure.

On June 14, 2023, the Adriana—an Italy-bound fishing trawler smuggling migrants—sank in international waters in the part of the Mediterranean known as the Ionian Sea, off the coast of Pylos, Messenia, Greece.

The boat had a capacity of 400 people, carried an estimated 400 to 750 migrants, mostly from Pakistan, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, and some from Afghanistan.

The then interior minister, Rana Sanaullah, had said there were at least 350 Pakistani victims on the overloaded vessel.

The FIA had stated that 209 Pakistanis died in the incident with 181 from Pakistan and 28 from the AJK.