FIA given go-ahead to investigate FATA Secretariat corruption case

PHC withdraws stay orders, says all records should be made available to investigation agency.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday withdrew stay orders on a case of alleged corruption by the Fata  Secretariat.

The Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) had started investigations on alleged corruption by the Fata Secretariat and political agents of Khyber and Bajaur agencies. They are accused of embezzling funds for different projects meant for the tribal areas.

The Fata Secretariat later filed an application before an anti-corruption court judge claiming investigations in Fata are beyond the FIA’s jurisdiction.

Although the appeal was turned down, the secretariat obtained stay orders from the PHC against the probe.

During the hearing on Monday, Counsel Qazi Muhammad Anwar, Fata Additional Chief Secretary Dr Tashfain and Khyber Agency Political Agent Mutahir Zeb requested PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan to adjourn the case hearing since he was busy with election petitions.

However, FIA Director Inam Ghani said public servants were being investigated and requested that the probing team be given access to records.



Ghani said various funds were being collected in the tribal areas without any record. Health programmes in the tribal areas are also under investigation for alleged corruption.

He requested the court to withdraw the stay orders obtained by the Fata Secretariat.

The court then directed that the FIA be given access to all the relevant records. It stated the petitioners, Dr Tashfain and Mutahir Zeb ,should not be arrested till April 22.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2013.