Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to launch an effective crackdown against the “big fish” involved in Hawala-Hundi illegal business. The interior minister issued the directive while chairing a meeting at FIA Karachi Zone office on Tuesday. “Go after the ‘big fish’ involved in hawala-hundi business, indiscriminate action should be taken against this mafia without giving in to any pressure,” Mohsin Naqvi maintained.

The minister also said that the beggar mafia is tarnishing the image of Pakistan. “An indiscriminate action should be initiated against this menace,” he said, directing to crack down on the agent mafia who sends beggars abroad. The minister said that a comprehensive strategy should be adopted against the agent mafia that are sending professional beggars abroad. Mohsin Naqvi said that these professional beggars are harming Pakistan’s image, so effective measures must be taken to discourage professional beggars.

He said that all the agents who have gone into hiding should be apprehended with the cooperation of all other provinces. He said that all those professional beggars who are being deported from foreign countries should be arrested on arrival. The minister further directed to adopt zero tolerance policy against all those persons who were involved in selling fake medicines. Mohsin Naqvi said that the people who are involved in selling fake medicine deserve imprisonment. The minister also ordered to take strict action against non-customs paid goods.

He directed strict action against such persons as per law, who were taking more than $5,000 foreign currency while travelling abroad. FIA Karachi Zone Director Nauman Siddique briefed the Interior Minister about issues and performance of the Karachi Zone. Additional Director-General FIA South Mujahid Akbar Khan, Director Karachi Zone Nauman Siddique, Deputy Director Anti-Money Laundering, Deputy Director Immigration, Deputy Director Anti-Corruption, and all assistant directors and relevant officials of FIA South were present during the meeting.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)