Curbing crime: Mastermind behind bogus bank branch nabbed

FIA has nabbed six people in connection with the case

LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) on Wednesday claimed to have arrested the mastermind behind a bogus bank operation in Sahiwal.

On September 21, the FIA had nabbed six people in connection with the case. The mastermind had evaded arrest by not showing up at the bank on the day of the FIA raid. An FIA official told The Express Tribune Kashif Ishtiaq, the alleged mastermind, had been arrested from Johar Town near Expo Centre. He said he was found trying to set up a travel agency when he was caught. He said Ishtiaq carried three identity cards. He said an FIA team had visited the address in Bahawalpur listed on one of his cards during Eid holidays but he was not there.

He said the FIA had detained one of Ishtiaq’s friends and he had helped them find him.

“During interrogation, Ishtiaq told the FIA that he was setting up a travel agency and had recently finalised a rent agreement,” the official said. The FIA official said the FIA teams were now investigating how the bank stationery, cheque books and stamps had been printed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2015.