LAHORE (Web Desk) – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken sweeping action against corruption and human trafficking within its ranks, dismissing 76 officials from service, demoting nine and sacking two others over the last four months of 2025. In total, punishments were awarded to 214 officials, ranging from constables to deputy directors.
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The crackdown followed a surge in complaints related to human trafficking and corruption, particularly after deadly boat tragedies in Europe and Africa that claimed the lives of many Pakistanis. Senior officials said investigations revealed that some FIA personnel were also involved in human smuggling networks.
To tighten the screws, the FIA established its first-ever Directorate of Internal Accountability (DIA) at headquarters in August 2025. Similar accountability units were later set up at zonal levels to ensure closer monitoring and faster action against wrongdoing.
FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar Raja also delegated accountability powers to additional director generals of the North and South zones, as well as zonal directors, allowing them to take action against officers up to Grade 16. Officials said this step helped bring decision-making closer to the ground and prevented delays.
An FIA source said that about 20 percent of the punishments were related to immigration complaints, another 20 percent involved faulty investigations, while nearly 40 percent were linked to indiscipline and inefficiency. The remaining cases covered various other violations.
To improve transparency, the FIA also introduced an online system to track inquiries from the filing of complaints to their final disposal, including appeals. The system allows senior officers to keep a close eye on progress, leaving little room for matters to slip through the cracks.
Pakistan currently has 12 FIA zones across the country, from Gilgit-Baltistan to Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir is not yet under the agency’s jurisdiction.
Officials said the reforms were carried out with full backing from the Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, who personally visited airports and FIA offices to push for strict action and better service delivery. The accountability drive, they added, marks a fresh start aimed at restoring public trust in the agency.
