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Moneychangers take "arrests" to task
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Javed Khanani remanded; Munaf Kalia to be produced in court tomorrow Interpol to deepen the probe: DG FIA Zafar Ahmed KARACHI: Forex Dealers Association President, Malik Bostan has said that the foreign exchange dealers bring $7-8 billion in the country everyday and such action against dealers was highly deplorable and uncalled for. Talking to a private news channel, Malik Bostan said that he met Munaf Kalia (courtesy Director FIA) and he told him that Khanani & Kalia Company was not involved in Hundi or Hawala business but the owner of Dunya Moneychangers who runs a franchise of the company. Munaf in a statement has said that FIA does not have the right to seal office or property of any moneychanger. According to rules FIA would report to the State Bank about the irregularity, and thereafter, SBP would serve show-cause notice on the moneychanger. After that the particular company would investigate into the matter. If evidence is found, then only central bank has the right to seal the company. Bostan added that moneychangers from across the country would meet tomorrow (Tuesday) to finalise the future line of action. The joint investigation team is interrogating Manaf Kalia extensively to elicit more information regarding the missing links, hidden players, and accomplices. Munaf will be produced before the court for remand on Monday. The sources said that if Lahore police sought his custody for further interrogation, he could be handed over to the investigation team. Meanwhile, police appear to have made some headway in the ongoing interrogation after collecting some important information from the computerised data of detained accused. Furthermore Special Duty Magistrate handed over Javed Khanani to FIA, while the FIA will present the financial scandal accused in the court of Area Magistrate, Faisal Jamil. A large number of moneychangers were present on this occasion shouting slogans against FIA. FIA Director-General Tariq Pervaiz has said that people involved in the country's major financial scam would be arrested with the assistance of Interpol. Talking to media, Tariq Pervaiz said that the action against money changers was not a sudden decision. "We have been working on this assignment since long, now we have expanded the circle of investigation across the country and we are enquiring about accounts to which, the illegal transaction of billion of dollars was made", he said.
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