By Ali Imran Abbasi
LAHORE:Director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore Zone, Captain (retd) Muhammad Ali Zia, chaired important crime meetings for the Anti-Corruption Circle and Commercial Banking Circle at the Zonal Office in Lahore. The purpose of the meetings was to review the progress of ongoing investigations and assess preventive measures.Circle Incharges provided detailed briefings on the cases currently under investigation, and the director stressed the need for timely and merit-based completion of all pending cases. He emphasized that no compromise should be made on evidence or procedural integrity in an effort to expedite the resolution of cases.In his address, Captain Ali Zia instructed the officers to ensure that investigations are both thorough and efficient, while also developing new strategies to apprehend proclaimed offenders. He highlighted the importance of enhancing coordination with local police forces and ordered that letters be sent to include the names of absconders in the police database.To strengthen the agency’s efforts, it was decided to form special FIA teams for joint operations with the police aimed at the early arrest of proclaimed offenders. Additionally, the Director directed that the performance reports of all case officers regarding Points of Sale (POS) and Case Activity Statements (CAS) be regularly updated to ensure transparent monitoring.Regarding financial crimes, Captain Ali Zia stressed the significance of examining evidence meticulously, particularly bank records, cheque tampering, and fake transactions. He also called for an intensified crackdown on hawala-hundi networks and illegal money exchangers operating in the region.To ensure that all cases are managed effectively, the Director instructed officers to submit regular follow-up reports of referred cases for proper supervision. Lastly, he emphasized the immediate implementation of reformative measures aimed at enhancing the institutional integrity and professional performance of the FIA.
