IHC seeks report in blocked accounts case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday asked for a report from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding the filing of a petition against the closure of the bank accounts of a person, when it came to light that the case was about human smuggling and not the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which the court had earlier called.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the case of Muhammad Usman against the closure of his bank accounts. But contrary to the directions of the court, the NCCIA DG did not appear before the court while the government counsel, FIA officials and others did turn up.

In the hearing, the counsel for the government told the court that the case did not come under the jurisdiction of NCCIA but it was about human smuggling which was being handled by the FIA.

When questioned by the court as to whom had given the orders to freeze the bank accounts, the counsel said that the accounts were frozen at the recommendation of the FIA, and added that Rs6 million were transferred into the account of the petitioner as per agreement for work visa in UK and £2,000 more were also paid.

As per FIA, investigation was carried out into the transactions and as a result of which, bank accounts were blocked.

It was contended by the counsel for the petitioner that despite the fact that all the allegations made against his client were true in facts, but the matter was wrongly treated as a case of money laundering by the FIA and therefore, accounts were blocked by the agency.

Justice Azam Khan remarked that court will review the matter after the submission of the report by the FIA.