High-profile unit: In rare move, inquiry opened against CIA chief

The home department did not specify what the allegations were.

KARACHI: The chief of the Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA), SSP Raja Omar Khattab, has been sent on leave as an inquiry committee will be investigating him for alleged abuse of power.

The home department issued a notification on his leave on Saturday and put DSP Usman Asghar in charge of the unit. It did not specify what the allegations were.

Crime Investigation Department AIG Ghulam Shabbir Sheikh will be leading the inquiry which will be undertaken with the help of Rangers and intelligence agencies. A source in the police claimed that the committee will submit a report to the home department in 15 days. According to AIG Sheikh, he was not aware of the allegations against SSP Khattab and the inquiry would open on Wednesday when his tour of Sindh ends.

Khattab has been accused of releasing a criminal after accepting a bribe, among other abuses of power. The alleged suspect was arrested at Jinnah International Airport and was handed over to him by the Rangers a couple of months ago.

This is the first time an inquiry is being carried out against such a high-profile police officer. Sources told The Express Tribune that Khattab had been asked to stay in the city till the report was submitted. When contacted, Khattab said that he could not comment as yet but would discuss the issue later.

The CIA was formerly known as the Special Investigation Unit.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2011.