38 FIA officers summoned over Greece boat tragedy

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the director general (DG) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ahmad Ishaque Jahangir, summoned 38 officers and personnel implicated in the Greece boat tragedy case on Monday, FIA sources confirmed.

These individuals, accused of negligence or involvement in human smuggling networks, were ordered to appear in person at the FIA headquarters for questioning.

Three deputy directors stationed at major airports across the country, along with other lower-ranking officials, were found guilty of involvement in the Greece boat tragedy and facilitating international human smuggling networks.

The implicated officers, hailing from Karachi, Gujranwala, Multan, and Faisalabad zones, include inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, and constables. They were instructed to report at 11 a.m. on Monday. Sources confirmed that all summoned individuals complied with the order.

The DG FIA personally interrogated the officials to ascertain their roles in the tragedy. Strict disciplinary actions, including legal prosecution, will be taken against those found guilty. The FIA has also planned unilateral action against any individual failing to comply with the summons.

The Greece boat tragedy, which occurred earlier this year, drew international attention to the illegal human smuggling networks operating from Pakistan. Dozens of migrants lost their lives when an overcrowded vessel capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. Investigations revealed the involvement of smuggling mafias, with several FIA officials allegedly facilitating these networks at airports and checkpoints.

In June 2023, an inquiry committee led by Ehsaan Sadiq was formed to investigate the incident. The committee’s findings exposed a web of corruption and negligence within the FIA, implicating multiple officials who allegedly aided human smugglers.

In response, the FIA intensified efforts against human smuggling, adopting reforms proposed by the Ehsaan Sadiq committee. These include:

Strict prosecution of implicated FIA personnel. Suspension, asset enquiries, and legal action against the accused. Improved passenger screening at airports and enhanced monitoring of high-risk travel routes.

Establishment of anti-human smuggling units in key regions. Freezing and confiscation of assets linked to human smuggling networks.

The 38 officials’ interrogation marks a pivotal step in the crackdown. The FIA has vowed to uphold accountability and ensure that those involved in human smuggling face justice. With both international and domestic pressure mounting, the agency’s actions in the coming days will serve as a critical test of its resolve to combat organised crime and corruption within its ranks.

The personal hearings of the accused officers and officials continued until late Monday night.