Nisar orders reinvestigation of Khanani case

Accounts of 300 human traffickers to be frozen

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s security czar has ordered reinvestigation of the notorious Khanani and Kalia case following the arrest of Altaf Khanani in the US. The interior minister has directed the Federal Investigation Agency to seek evidence from the US authorities against Altaf, who was acquitted of money laundering charges in 2011.

The US disclosed the arrest of Altaf, a well-known Pakistani moneychanger, on November 13 over his involvement in laundering funds for designated global terrorist organisations. Altaf was a partner in Khanani and Kalia exchange company, which was banned about five years ago. However, the case of illegal money transfers could not be proved against them in court and they were released.



Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar’s orders for reinvestigation came on Tuesday after he chaired a meeting to discuss matters related to Pakistan’s deportation agreement with the European Union (EU). Representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs and interior, FIA and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) attended the meeting.



The minister has asked the officials to look into the causes behind the inordinate delays in filing the appeal against the high court’s decision in favour of Khanani and Kalia.

According to an official statement, Nisar also directed the passports director general, NADRA chairman and the FIA to cancel passports, block the national identity cards and freeze the accounts of 300 human traffickers and their identified agents.



The minister termed the improvement in the FIA’s performance against human smugglers during the past 18 months “insufficient”. “The FIA should opt for modern techniques instead of traditional modes of operation,” he said, directing the officials to launch an immediate crackdown against human smugglers in the country and abroad.

Commenting on the deportees issue, he said the agreement was suspended owing to disparities in the agreement with EU and irregularities in its implementation. “No deportees will now be issued temporary travelling documents without permission of the interior ministry,” he added.



The minister said deporting any Pakistani over suspicions of terrorism was a violation of human rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2015.