Pakistan to seek Interpol help in forex scam as arrested man admits involvement

LAHORE: Director General FIA Tariq Pervez, while talking to Geo News, said the government would seek Interpol assistance to arrest those culprits abroad who received illegally transferred currency there.

Revealing the biggest ever monetary-scandal of the country DG FIA claimed that government had figured out culprits who transferred billions of dollars abroad illegally and soon government would take massive action against them in the country as well as abroad.

Meanwhile, dollar dealers across the country including dealers at all the major airports of country are being strictly monitored, sources said.

Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Lahore arrested two persons accused of running an illegal currency business and initiated an interrogation regarding their alleged involvement into laundering millions of rupees abroad.

The FIA has launched a country-wide crack down against those running a business of ‘Hundi’ and illegal business of currency transfer. As a result, two persons allegedly carrying on illegal business of currency transfer locally known as ‘Hundi’ have been arrested from Gujranwala and shifted to FIA Lahore Headquarter for interrogation.

Assistant Director FIA, Arif Aiwan arrested two persons, Naimatullah (Manager) and Tariq Mehmood (Cashier) associated with a local forex company.

Director General FIA, Tariq Pervez says on the directive of Federal Government some of the persons involved in creating economic crisis in the country were arrested after they were identified.

Talking to Geo News, he said Javed Khanani was arrested from Lahore while Manaf Kalia from Karachi.

He said two persons Rustam Ali Khan and Tariq Mehmood were arrested from Khanani and Kalia’s franchised companies Duniya Enterprises

DG FIA Tariq Pervez said important evidence has been collected in the ongoing operation including computerized database, documents and large amounts of currencies.

He said further investigation is underway after lodging a case in this connection at FIA Gujranwala Region.

Arrested director of a local money changer company Munaf Kalia has confessed his involvement in illegal transfer of foreign exchange to abroad, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sources told ARY OneWorld.

Munaf Kalia was arrested during raids in Karachi to arrest people involved in illegal transfer of foreign currency to abroad.

The names of six big money exchangers have also been included in the exit control list.

FIA has detained another money dealer Javed Kalia in Lahore.

According to the sources, during the fiscal crisis in previous weeks massive amounts of foreign exchange were illegally transferred out of the country.

The FIA conducted raids in various parts of Karachi and detained more than 12 persons including Munaf Kalia and 10 officials of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA). The NADRA officials said to be involved in providing counterfeit identity cards.

The FIA has formed more teams to broaden the investigations.

The offices of a major money exchange company located at I.I. Chundrigar Road have been sealed and the offices of other firms dealing in foreign exchange in Karachi and Lahore being monitored.

Meanwhile, the agencies have launched operation against illegal money changers in Peshawar. It is pertinent to mention that around 78 illegal dealers deal in foreign currency in Peshawar, which said to be involved in transfer of US dollars to Afghanistan.

According to reports, the law enforcers have completed preparations to start crackdown against illegal money dealers in Quetta.