FIA granted powers to detain suspects for 90 days

The much criticised Act is to be used by the agency to remand the suspects for 90 days

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was on Saturday granted power to detain alleged criminals for 90 days, Express News reported.

The move comes after the sphere of  Pakistan Protection Act was extended to the FIA following reports that the agency could be handed custody of the alleged murderers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Imran Farooq.

Farooq had been bludgeoned and stabbed to death near his home in Edgware, North London, on September 16, 2010, as he was returning home after finishing work at a local pharmacy.

Read: FC arrests two suspects involved in Dr Imran Farooq murder

The ordinance, which allows law enforcement officials to use force, and arrest without warrant, any person who they consider is likely to commit a scheduled offence.

Earlier, three suspects involved in Dr Imran Farooq’s murder were arrested in Pakistan, Afghanistan border town of Chaman. “The men identified as Khalid Shamim and Mohsin Ali were arrested on a tip-off,” a FC spokesperson had said, adding that the men belonged to a political party based in Karachi.

The FC spokesperson had said, “We have decided to hand over the men to Federal Investigation Agency after startling revelations.

Read: Imran Farooq murder case: Suspects arrested in Chaman may have 'political' links