| Federal Investigation Agency وفاقی تحقیقاتی ایجنسی | |
|---|---|
 The emblem of FIA | |
| Abbreviation | FIA |
| Motto | ایمانداری اور سالمیت Honesty and Integrity |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 13 January 1975; 50 years ago (1975-01-13) |
| Preceding agency | |
| Employees | Classified |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Pakistan |
| Legal jurisdiction | As per operations jurisdiction |
| Governing body | Government of Pakistan |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | G-9,Peshawar Morr Interchange,Islamabad,Pakistan |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Ministry of Interior |
| Major Units | 13
|
| Website | |
| www | |
TheFederal Investigation Agency (Urdu:وفاقی تحقیقاتی ایجنسی;reporting name:FIA) is aborder control,criminal investigation,counter-intelligence andsecurity agency under the control of theinterior secretary of Pakistan, tasked with investigative jurisdiction on undertaking operations againstterrorism, espionage,federal crimes,smuggling as well asinfringement and other specific crimes.
Codified under theConstitution of Pakistan in 1974, the institution functions under theMinistry of Interior (MoI). The FIA also undertakes international operations with the close co-operation and co-ordination ofInterpol. Headquartered inIslamabad, the agency has various branches and field offices located in all major cities throughout Pakistan.
The FIA's main goal and priority is to protect the nation's interests and defendPakistan's interests locally, to uphold and enforce criminal law, and law enforcement in the country.
As of 2022, FIA has 11 active departments to lead criminal charges and investigation, with priorities:
After the1971 war with India, police reforms were carried out by Pakistan after adopting recommendations from the report submitted by bureaucrat G. Ahmad inPrime Minister Secretariat, on 7 March 1972.[9] The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was created on 13 January 1975, after being codified in theConstitution with the passing of the FIA Act, 1974, byPakistan's Legislature.[9] Initially, its first roles were to build efforts againstorganized crimes, smuggling, human trafficking, immigration offences, and passport scandals.[9]
When the FIA was created, it took cases oncorruption at every level of the government.[10] Although ostensibly a crime-investigation service, the FIA also did investigations of accused political opponents and critics of financial impropriety, from tax evasions to taking bribery while in office.[10]
Initially, its role was to conduct investigations on public corruption but the scope of the FIA's investigation was increased to take actions against communistterrorism in the 1980s.[9] In 1981, the FIA agents successfully investigated and interrogated the culprits behind thehijacking of a Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 720 CR, immediately holdingMurtaza Bhutto for its responsibility.[11] The FIA keenly tracked the whereabouts ofMurtaza Bhutto in Syria, and successfully limited the influence of hisal-Zulfikar group.[11] In 1985, the FIA's undercover operation busted the drug trade, with the illicit trade leaders and their culprits apprehended by the FIA. Known as the "Pakistan League Affair", the FIA effectively put an end to the illicit drug trade with the arrest of the gang's keydrug lord.[12]
From 1982 to 1988, the FIA launched a series ofinvestigations and probes against Pakistan Communist Party leader Jam Saqi and aided the court proceedings relating to its findings.[13] In 1986, the FIA successfully infiltrated the terrorist group responsible for hijackingPan Am Flight 73, and quickly detained the Libyan commercial pilot suspected of having a role in the hijack.[14]
After securing voting plurality in1993 Pakistani general elections, Prime MinisterBenazir Bhutto further widened the scope of FIA, making FIA akin toInter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the intelligence community. After approving the appointment of senior FIA agentRehman Malik, the FIA's intelligence and investigations were now conducted at the international level, with close co-ordination with the American FBI.[15] The FIA notably worked together with the FBI to conduct investigations of the1993 bombing at theWorld Trade Center in New York, United States.[15] The FIA and FBI tracked down the mastermind of that bombing,Ramzi Yousef, in Pakistan.[15] In 1995, the successful investigation led to the extradition of Yousef to the United States.
In the 1990s, the FIA directed by Malik, was involved in leading investigations and actions againstal-Qaeda operatives,Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi Yousef, and assisted the FBI to apprehend Youssef in 1995,[16] and Mohammed in 2002.[9][17] The FIA pushed its efforts against terrorism and tracked crime syndicated organizations affiliated with the terrorist organizations.[18] The FIA was said to be launching secret intelligence operations against the terrorist organizations, which mounted a secret competition with theISI.[18] Despite difficulties, the FIA had gained world prominence after reportedly leading successful operations against terrorism in 1996.[18]
In 2001, the FIA successfully investigated the case againstSultan Mahmood for his alleged part innuclear terrorism, though the FIA cleared Mahmood of his charges in 2002.[19] In 2003, the role ofcounter-terrorism was assigned to the FIA, which led to an establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Wing (CTW).[1] The CTW agents were provided extensive training and equipment handling by theFBI under the Anti Terrorism Assistance Program (ATTP).[1]
The FIA began investigatingKhalid Sheikh Mohammed and his movement around the world was monitored by the FIA. The FIA agents kept the investigations with FBI agents over the case of Mohammed.[20] Eventually FIA's successful investigations led to Mohammed's capture inRawalpindi, Punjab, in a paramilitary operation conducted jointly by theCIA and theISI in 2003.[20] In 2002, the FIA continued its investigation and had strict surveillance of the movements ofAafia Siddiqui in Karachi.[21] In 2003, the FIA had been investigating the investigation onSiddiqui's movements and activities, subsequently sharing with the United States.[21]
Efforts on probes against copyright violation was increased after a petition was filed by theFBI which disputed Pakistan's commitment to rooting out infringement within its national borders in 2001.[22]
In 2002, the FIA launched several probes against copyright infringement and Pakistan was en route to having its US duty-freeGSP agreements being taken away from it in 2005.[22] To avert any further negative fallout, sections of the Copyright Ordinance 1962 were included in the FIA's schedule of offences.[22] This legislation paved the way in 2005, under the direction of the federal interior ministry, to raid the country's largest video wholesale centre: The Rainbow Centre.[22]
Raiding the factories of the dealers that operated within the centre proved to be a highly successful enterprise, resulting in a reduction of 60% of sales of bootlegged video material.[22] A spokesman from theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), later confirmed, that many of the outlets had stopped selling unlicensed video goods and were now selling mobile phones, highlighting that the FIA's raids and the resultant legal action were a success.[22]
In 1972–73,Prime MinisterZulfikar Ali Bhutto adopted many recommendations of theHamoodur Rahman Commission'spapers after seeing the intelligence failure inEast Pakistan. This led the reformation of the FIA as Prime Minister Bhutto visioned the FIA as equivalent to AmericanFBI which not only protects the country from internal crises but also from foreign suspected threats therefore he established the FIA on the same pattern. In 1970s, Prime Minister Bhutto had the Pakistan intelligence to actively run military intelligence programs in various countries to procure scientific expertise and technical papers in line ofAlsos Mission ofManhattan Project.[citation needed]
Both the FIA and theIntelligence Bureau (IB) were empowered during the government and the scope of their operation was expanded during 1970s.[citation needed] Though ISI did lose its importance in the 1970s, the ISI regained its importance in the 1980s after successfully running themilitary intelligence program against theSoviet Union. Sensing the nature of competition, President Zia-ul-Haq consolidated the intelligence services after the ISI getting training from the CIA in 1980s, and subsequently improved its methods of intelligence.[citation needed]
In 1990s, the ISI and FIA, in many ways, were at war in the poverty-stricken landscape of Pakistan politics.[23] The ISI used its Islamic guerrillas as deniable foot soldiers to strike at FIA credibility, and according to published accounts, the FIA turned to IsraeliMossad andIsraeli Intelligence Community throughPervez Musharraf to helped down the terrorist networks in the country.[23] Throughout the 1990s, the intelligence community remained under fire and competition in each services for credibility.[24]
After the11 September 2001, the attacks in the United States history, the FBI launched the largest investigation in its history and soon determined that the hijackers were linked to al-Qaeda, led by Saudi exiledOsama bin Laden.[citation needed] Same as just after9/11 attacks in theUnited States, the FIA gained credibility over the ISI in the United States.[citation needed] The FIA and ISI were also mentioned inThe Path to 9/11 television series.[citation needed]
On 9 June 1975, the FIA formed the Immigration Wing (IW) to helpNARA agents and officials to conduct probes againstillegal immigration to Pakistan.[25] In 1979, the Anti-Human Smuggling Wing was formed to take evasive actions against the human smugglers andtrafficking.[25] In 1975, another special team, the Technical Wing, was formed to tackle financial crimes.[26]
In 2003, the FIA formed an elitecounter-terrorism unit to help deal with exterminatingterrorism in the country.[27] Named Counter-Terrorism Wing (CTW), it acts as an Elite team in related procedures and all counter-terrorism cases.[27] Also the same year, the FIA formed theCyber Investigation Unit (CIU) and theComputer Analysis and Forensic Laboratory.[27]
Since then, the FIA has assigned its agents, and officials have received physical training and electronic equipment from the United States.[27] In 2011, the CTW was further expanded and FIA established anotherTerrorist Financing Investigation Unit (TFIU) to conduct and lead operations againstterrorism financing.[27] The CTW operatives have also assisted other intelligence agencies to conduct joint investigations against the terror groups. To date CTW has always been an integral part of high-profile terrorist cases. It has also managed themost wanted list of individuals involved indirectly or directly in taking part in terrorism.[28] In 2008, the FIA successfully led and concluded the joint investigations on the Marriott Hotelbombing inIslamabad.[29] The FIA shared most of its findings gathered through interrogation of the arrested suspects to help hunt down the top members ofal-Qaeda, with the FBI.[30]
Other FIA special teams included the Anti-Corruption Wing (ACW) which was established in 2004 to lead probes against corrupt officials and otherwhite collar criminals.[31] In 2004, the Economic Crime Wing (ECW) was also established in 2004 but transferred to theNAB; though it was restored to the FIA in 2008.[32] In 2014, the FIA formed an elite response team with theNational Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) agency to take decisive and through counter-terrorism actions, based on gained internal intelligence, against the terror groups.[33]
In 2006, the FIA resumed operational links with its Indian counterpart, theCentral Bureau of Investigation, after a gap of 17 years.[34][35]
The FIA participates in thePISCES project which was initiated by theUS Department of State, Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP) in 1997, as a system to improve their watch-listing capabilities by providing a mainframe computer system to facilitate immigration processing. ThePISCES system has been installed at seven major airports of the country i.e.Islamabad,Karachi,Lahore,Peshawar,Quetta,Multan andFaisalabad airports. The system has provision to accommodate about information on suspects from all law enforcement agencies like Immigration, Police, Narcotics Control, Anti-smuggling, and Intelligence Services.[36]
 | This sectionis in a table format thatmay be better presented usingprose. You can help by converting this section to prose.Editing help is available.(November 2015) |
The FIA is headed by the appointedDirector-General who is appointed by thePrime Minister, and confirmed by thePresident. Appointment for theDirector of FIA either comes from the high-ranking officials ofpolice or thecivil bureaucracy. The DG FIA reports to theInterior Secretary of Pakistan.[37] The Director General of the FIA is assisted by three AdditionalDirector-Generals and ten Directors for effective monitoring and smooth functioning of the operations spread all over the country.[38]The organizational structure of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is as follows:
| Administrative offices and wings | Executive figure | Commands and the area of responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration Wing | AdditionalDG | Director ofPISCES program Director of Immigration Director ofAHS Dy. Director ofATU Dy. Director of Law Dy. Director of Legal Organization |
| Cyber Crime Wing | AdditionalDG | Director Ops, Cyber Crime Wing |
| Anti Corruption wing | AdditionalDG | Director of Technical Ops. Director of Law Director ofI&M Director ofIPR Dy. Director of Crimes Dy. Director of Technical Ops. |
| Administration Wing | AdditionalDG | Commandant of FIA Academy Director of Administration Director of Engineering Director of Accountings |
| Counter Terrorism Wing | Director | Deputy commandant Operations Deputy commandant Intelligence |
| Punjab-I | Director | |
| Punjab-II | Director | |
| Sindh-I | Director | |
| Sindh-II | Director | |
| Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa | Director | |
| Balochistan | Director | |
| Islamabad | Director | |
| National Central Bureau (Interpol) | Director |
The FIA is headquartered inIslamabad and also maintains a separate training FIA Academy, also inIslamabad which was opened in 1976.[39] In 2002, FIA formed a specialised wing for investigating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related crimes. This wing is commonly known as the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) and has the credit of arresting 12 hackers, saving millions of dollars for the government exchequer.[40] This wing of the FIA has state-of-the-art Digital Forensic Laboratories managed by highly qualified Forensic Experts and is specialised in Computer and Cell Phone Forensics, cyber/electronic crime investigation, Information System Audits and Research & Development. Officers of the NR3C carry out training for Officers of Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan.[40] The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has its headquarters in Islamabad. The chief presiding officer of the agency is called the director general, and is appointed by the Ministry of Interior. The headquarters provide support to 7 provincial offices, i.e. Sindh-I, Sindh-II, Punjab-I, Punjab-II, KPK, Balochistan and Federal Capital Islamabad. The provincial heads of agency are called "directors". Further there are smaller offices known as wings or circles e.g. Crime, Corporate Crime, Banking Crime and Anti-Human Trafficking Circles at the provincial level. They are headed by additional and deputy directors, helped by investigation officers (I.O.) like assistant directors, inspectors, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors etc. for running of bureau business. The wings are major segments of the agency known as Anti-Corruption or Crime Wing, Cyber Crime Wing, Immigration Wing, Technical Wing, Legal Wing, Administration Wing and National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C). Further there are branches working under the command of above-mentioned wings, viz. counter-terrorism branch (SIG), Interpol branch, legal branch, crime branch, economic crime branch, intellectual property rights branch, immigration branch, anti-human smuggling branch, PISCES branch, administration branch, implementation and monitoring branch.
| Grade | Designation | Equivalent Police Ranks |
|---|---|---|
| BS-7 | Constable | Constable |
| BS-9 | Head Constable | Head Constable |
| BS-11 | Assistant Sub-Inspector | Assistant Sub-Inspector |
| BS-14 | Sub-Inspector | Sub-Inspector |
| BS-16 | Inspector | Inspector |
| BS-17 | Assistant Director | Assistant Superintendent of Police |
| BS-18 | Deputy Director | Superintendent of Police |
| BS-19 | Additional Director | Senior Superintendent of Police |
| BS-20 | Director | Deputy Inspector General of Police |
| BS-21 | Additional Director General | Additional Inspector General of Police |
| BS-22 | Director-General | Inspector General of Police |
The FIA has used covert operations against domestic political groups since its inception; the FIA launched covert operations against the right-wing activists of thePNA.[10] In 1990s, the FIA was involved in running active intelligence operation against theBonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) on behest of the government. Critics of FIA have called the agency "secret police".[41] In the 1980s, the FIA also targetedPakistani leftist groups and was instrumental in conducting inquiries (Jam Saqi case) in preparation against theCommunist Party of Pakistan.[41]
In 2005,Pakistani Ministry of Justice agents successfully infiltrated the immigration wing of the FIA, leading the FIA to launch an investigation against its own department. Thespecial agents of the FIA arrested five of FIA's immigration agents for their alleged role in human trafficking, and most of them were dismissed from the service.[42]
On 11 March 2008, thePakistani Taliban (TTP) coordinated thetwin suicide bombings to target the counter-terrorist unit of FIA based inLahore. The building was severely damaged during the suicidal attack. TheGeo News later reported that "the building also housed the offices of a special US-trained units of FBI created to counter terrorism" suggesting a motive.[43]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Federal Investigation Agency.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Executive | |
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| Civil Armed Forces Intelligence | |
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| Intelligence measurement | |
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| National | |
