LHC upholds inquiry order against FIA officials accused of coercing expatriate

The Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld an order directing an inquiry against FIA officers in Faisalabad accused of unlawfully seizing cash and vehicles from a Pakistan-origin British national while he was in custody. The LHC FIA probe will now proceed after Justice Jawad Zafar dismissed a petition seeking to close it.

The petition had been filed by private citizen Akmal Hussain, who asked the court to shut down the inquiry against the officers. They include Composite Circle Director Saqib Sultan and Sub-Inspector Ajmal Hussain. The court refused the request and let the inquiry order stand.

LHC FIA probe: what the court decided

Advocate Mian Dawood, counsel for Salman Babar, told the court that his client is a Pakistani-origin British citizen who deals in vehicles in the UK. Babar had returned to Pakistan after 16 years when, according to the counsel, rivals targeted him over a family dispute in the UK.

Dawood said the rivals allegedly bribed the FIA officials in Faisalabad and used Akmal Hussain as a proxy complainant. The officials then summoned Babar, his brother and other relatives to the FIA police station.

While Babar was in custody, he was allegedly made to transfer Rs1 million to a bank account controlled by his rivals. Stamp papers and documents were also prepared in the proxy complainant’s favour, according to the counsel.

Babar later went to court to cancel the documents, which he says were obtained under coercion, and moved the justice of the peace against the FIA officials.

Fabricated visa case allegation

The counsel alleged that the officials took offence at the legal challenge. In response, they allegedly had a fabricated visa-fraud case registered against Babar and his brother on Akmal Hussain’s complaint, involving £104,000.

Dawood argued that Hussain could show no money trail or financial capacity for such a transaction, and produced no proof of any payment, casting doubt on the complaint.

The justice of the peace in Faisalabad had ordered the inquiry against the FIA officers. Hussain’s counsel, Ajmal Adil, argued that the justice of the peace lacked jurisdiction and ignored the officials’ reports.

Justice Zafar dismissed that argument, upheld the inquiry order and expressed concern at the conduct attributed to the FIA officers. The judge observed that such incidents could erode public confidence in state institutions.

Why the ruling matters

The case touches a sensitive point: how law enforcement agencies handle complaints from expatriates who return to Pakistan. Babar’s counsel painted a picture of rivals turning the FIA into a weapon in a family dispute, with officials allegedly pressuring the target in custody and then pursuing him again when he sought legal help.

By refusing to close the inquiry, the High Court has signalled that officers accused of coercion will have to answer the allegations through the inquiry process rather than have them dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. The inquiry itself will determine whether the officers acted beyond their authority.

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FAQs

Who filed the petition the LHC dismissed?

A private citizen named Akmal Hussain, who sought to close the inquiry against the FIA officers and was used, according to Salman Babar’s counsel, as a proxy complainant.

What are the FIA officers accused of?

They are accused of unlawfully seizing cash and vehicles from Salman Babar while he was in custody, forcing him to transfer Rs1 million to his rivals, and later registering a fabricated visa-fraud case against him.

What did Justice Jawad Zafar say?

He dismissed the petition, upheld the inquiry order and expressed concern at the conduct attributed to the FIA officers, observing that such incidents could erode public confidence in state institutions.