ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry has received a 400-page report comprising answers of 30 queries sent by Pakistan to India into Mumbai attacks. The sources said that Interior Adviser presided over a high-level meeting to review the Indian report and forwarded it to the investigation team of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Pakistan will give its response through diplomatic sources after complete evaluation of Indian replies. The DNA reports of long surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab and seven other attackers are also included in the report.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: FIA has clarified that none of its officers has issued any statement regarding Mumbai attacks investigation, saying it is not authorized to do so. The spokesman of FIA further said no official gave any interview to an Iranian TV channel.

Previously it was reported that Pakistan’s national investigative body, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) believes that the Mumbai terror attacks were planned in Europe. The result of a probe into the attacks show the master plan was developed in a European country, a senior FIA official told Press TV.

Input from Agencies

Flight of capital cannot be controlled through administrative actions but by creating a conducive and enabling environment, Pakistan Economy Watch said on Friday. Economies have never responded to speeches, promises and tall claims but actions. Pakistan is not an exception. A former president has played major role in flight of capital from the country. He should be included in the ongoing FIA investigations and tried, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President, Pakistan Economy Watch.

Former President should be included in the ongoing FIA probe
He said that a former president was involved in bogus war against terror, killing and selling Pakistanis, extra judicial killings, violating constitution and imposing emergency which harassed local and foreign investors triggering flight of capital.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that billions of dollars fled from country within days after promulgation of National Reconciliation Ordinance. Other unfamiliar and highly questionable activities also proved a stimulus.

“A ban on forex movement before promulgation of NRO would not have hurt economy to this extent but the so called ‘reconciliation’ and secret parts of deal were kept above the larger national interests,” he said.

Two former prime ministers have also played havoc with the country by amending the rule to the benefits of important people which was against the national interest. Will there be any thorough and systematic inquiry and someone dare to lay hand on them, he asked.

Presently, government as well as opposition is contributing to the uncertainty by indulging in the petty matters and ignoring ground realities which is also a factor behind flight of capital. Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that currency dealers are being arrested who were mere tools while actual culprits have been left scot-free. Who will lay hand on them, he asked.

The crackdown of law enforcing agencies is also contributing towards uncertainty. It speaks volumes about the ineffectiveness of the regulator. Such actions will leave people with no alternative but to bury money like the practiced thousands of years ago. “What should investors do if they don’t have opportunities in Pakistan, how come they feel safe in a country where rulers don’t feel safe,” he asked.

Whole issue of arrests and disclosures has been shrouded in mystery which is raising concerns. The findings of the current operation should not be allowed to become another Hamood Ur Rehman Commission report as the credibility of the government is on stake.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency yesterday continued its raids at the main money changers firms, scanned bank transactions and arrested several individuals suspected to be involved in transfer of foreign exchange to foreign countries through unlawful means.

Pakistan’s central bank suspended yesterday the license of a prominent foreign exchange company as part of an investigation into illegal transfers abroad that comes as the country faces a sharp fall in foreign reserves.

Pakistan is struggling with a balance of payments crisis and the rupee has lost about 24 percent against the dollar this year. There have been reports of people making heavy withdrawals from their foreign currency accounts and sending money abroad.

Police said on Saturday investigators had arrested four foreign currency dealers on suspicion of illegally sending money abroad. Among the four were two of the top officials of the Khanani and Kalia International company.

The State Bank of Pakistan said yesterday it had suspended the company’s license with immediate effect “for a period of 30 days pending further investigation/notice, for violation of … rules and regulations.”

Famous forex dealer Munaf Kalia, Javed Khanani and others accused of being involved in the scandal of illegally transferring billions of dollars abroad were handed over on remand to FIA yesterday. Kalia was presented in the court of Judicial Magistrate, Muhammad Omar Awan at the City Court in Karachi, when the court ordered giving him on three-day transit remand to FIA for taking him to Lahore during this time for further grilling.

Lahore Special Magistrate handed over Khanani, Tariq Mahmood and Rustam Ali in the custody of FIA on four-day physical remand, while the accused would again be presented in the court of Lahore Area Magistrate on Nov. 14.

Sunday remained a hectic day for Interior Ministry’s Adviser Rehman Malik as he summoned top officials of FIA to trace all those people who were in the recent past involved in foreign exchange transfer to other countries. An official of Interior Ministry told “some politicians and bureaucrats too are found involved in this scam from various banks and top money changers.”

Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab, had ordered the arrest of several officials of Bank of Punjab which was reportedly involved in money laundering during the tenure of Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

Courtesy: Arab News

ISLAMABA: Federal Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah has admitted that the suicide blast at Marriot Hotel was occurred due to the failure and incompetence of security agencies and Capital Development Authority (CDA). Briefing the Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior which met here Saturday at Parliament House, he said the security agencies and CDA failed to take timely measures even a traffic constable had reported the presence of suspected dumper at the entrance of Marriot Hotel.

Briefing the committee about the blast, IG and SSP Islamabad said police had been tipped off about the terrorist plot that a bomb blast might be operated in Red Zone by using a vehicle having common or diplomatic number plate.

They told the committee that heavy security arrangements had been made in and around the Red Zone, but the security was not so intensified around Marriot Hotel as it, according to them, did not lie inside self-declared security zone. Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Tariq Pervez told the committee members that the explosive-laden dumper reached at Marriot via Margalla.

He said the explosives used in Marriot were same as were used in blasts at Danish embassy Islamabad, GHQ Rawalpindi and suicide attack on FIA building Lahore. Pervez accused CDA officials of being responsible of excessive loss of human lives and assets.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Interior Ministry Department, FIA has issued licenses to eight new Overseas Employment Promoters in various cities during March 2008, sources said. According to details, the FIA issued licenses to promoters Tahir Khitab, Alma Group Karachi, Muhammad Nazir –Abdul Wahid & Brothers Rawalpindi, Muhammad Arshad Zubair, Rich Consulting Rawalpindi, Kamran & Aurangzeb Rafay Travelers & Recruitment Agency Abbotabad, Muhammad Nisar Ghoman IGHC Lahore, Syed Arshad Ali Hotal Jobs Karachi, Muhammad Salman Khan, Asif Borthers Karachi and Warias Ali Al-Mir Corporation Lahore. It may be noted that the licenses were issues to all these Overseas Employment Promoters in March 2008.-SANA