35 FIA officers sacked, cases lodged against 13 others over boat tragedies

As many as 35 Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officers and personnel were terminated from their services on Wednesday in connection with different incidents of sinking of boats in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Also, cases were registered against 13 FIA constables whose negligence or complicity helped human smugglers send people abroad. 

The FIA has said that FIA Director General Ahmad Ishaq Jahangir held a departmental inquiry against 49 Agency officials and personnel, who were connected to human smuggling.  

At the end of the inquiry, the FIA has informed, the DG ordered the removal of four inspectors, 10 sub-inspectors, two ASIs, five head constables and 14 constables from their posts.   

The DG has said there is no room in the department for those officers and personnel who were either found negligent or involved in human trafficking. “It will be ensured that disciplinary action is taken against these persons,” he has said, adding, “The purpose of this exercise is to eliminate corruption in the department by purging it of black sheep.” 

“Such persons, who are involved in the exploitation of innocent people, deserve no mercy or leniency,” DG Jahangir has said categorically.

Only when, he went on to say, there would be accountability that the scourge of human smuggling would be dealt with. 

Reporter: Tayyab Saif