Corruption charges: FIA delays indictment of former CDA chief

Senior FIA official claims investigators were unnecessarily delaying case, raising doubt that it was favouring Iqbal.

ISLAMABAD:

Although more than two weeks have passed since a case was registered against a former Capital Development Authority (CDA) chief, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has yet to submit an interim charge-sheet.

A senior FIA official claimed investigators were unnecessarily delaying the case, raising doubt that it was favouring Farkhand Iqbal. He also hinted at pressure from some influential on the investigators associated with the case.

Investigators are supposed to submit the interim charge-sheet within 14 days of the registration of the first information report against an accused.

The former CDA chairman was arrested by the FIA for alleged involvement in creation and subsequent allotment of 12 residential plots in Sector I-8 to a housing foundation in excess of quota.

Accused of receiving huge kickbacks from the deal, Iqbal was produced before a special magistrate, who granted six days judicial remand. However, the investigators have failed to recover the amount, though they recently told the court Iqbal had purchased a house in Sector E-11 for Rs42.5 million.

The Express Tribune was unable to get a version from the FIA as there is no official spokesperson at present.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2014.