Probe into terrorism: SC irked by stoppage of funds to FIA

Grills federal agency for not investigating human trafficking cases

ISLAMABAD:

The apex court has expressed dissatisfaction over the inadequate allocation of funds by the federal government for anti-terror investigations.

The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, on Thursday expressed concern over the government rejection of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) proposal for enhancing the budget for investigation.

The bench also lamented that the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has been ineffective due to a lack of funds. It said if the federal government cannot allocate funds to the investigating agencies and departments then it should shut them down.

“How the National Action Plan will be implemented without the allocation of adequate funds to the relevant departments?”asked the bench.

A member of the bench, Justice Faez Isa said Nacta and FIA were working only on papers, while the FIA was a dead entity. He asked Interior Secretary Shahid Khan as to whether sufficient amount had been allocated for combating terrorism.

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The interior secretary defended the allocation of fund for FIA investigation process, adding the FIA might get more fund through supplementary grant, in case of a need.

Meanwhile, the interior ministry submitted a report on the investigation cost of the FIA. The report said 6,492 cases and 11,384 inquiries were pending with the department.

Before 2015, the report said, the budgetary allocations under investigation head were Rs1.29 million. In May 2015, the FIA demanded that the funds under the investigation head should be increased to Rs110 .456 million.

It said the interior ministry, after examining the FIA’s proposal for enhancement of investigation budget, found it unjustified. However, the interior ministry on May 29 proposed an enhancement of Rs25 milllion to the finance ministry. But, the finance division allowed only Rs3 million to FIA through re-appropriation from the savings under the agency’s various heads of accounts.

“A fresh case for enhancement of investigation cost for next financial year with breakup of revised status of pending inquiries and cases as well as utilisation of Rs3 million has not been received in the ministry till August 19,” said the ministry.

The interior ministry said a fresh proposal for enhancement of investigation cost amounting to Rs110 million as supplementary grant for financial year 2015-16 has been received on August 19, which is being processed by the ministry. “The FIA told the ministry that it required a secret fund of Rs5,000 to Rs50,000 for each case,” he said.

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The bench, however, sought a written reply from the federal government for not allocating the appropriate budget to the FIA under investigation cost. The court also took strong exception to the FIA for not investigating human trafficking.

During the hearing, the chief justice also sought a copy of The Express Tribune, wherein a picture was published regarding Pakistani migrants travelling in a boat in the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast on the Greek island of Kos.

The CJ asked the FIA official what steps have been taken regarding the repatriation of Pakistanis, who are languishing in other foreign jails.

The hearing of the case is adjourned till today (Friday).

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2015.