Federal Investigation Agency
The Federal Investigation Agency is a border control, criminal investigation, counter-intelligence and security agency under the control of the Interior Secretary of Pakistan, tasked with investigative jurisdiction on undertaking operations against terrorism, espionage, federal crimes, smuggling as well as infringement and other specific crimes.
Codified under the Constitution of Pakistan in 1974, the institution functions under the Ministry of Interior. The FIA also undertakes international operations with the close co-operation and co-ordination of Interpol. Headquartered in Islamabad, the agency has various branch and field offices located in all major cities throughout Pakistan.
More than 39 international offices, designated as "Immigration Wing", exist in Pakistan embassies and consulates-general worldwide. Its executive figure is appointed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The current Director-General is Wajid Zia, a grade 21 PSP officer, appointed in December 2019.
The National Intelligence Directorate was formed in 2014 to pool intelligence gathered by over 30 of Pakistan's intelligence agencies.
Objectives and mission statement
The FIA's main goal and priority is to protect the nation's interests and defend Pakistan, to uphold and enforce criminal law, and law enforcement in the country. Its current mission statement is:Priorities and departments
As of 2009, FIA has 10 active departments to lead criminal charges and investigation, with priorities:- Counter-terrorism Wing —Tasked to protect Pakistan from all kinds of terrorist attacks, including cyber, bioterrorism, chemical, electronic and nuclear terrorism.
- Anti-Corruption Wing —Tasked with undertaking investigations and combat all public corruption at all levels of command.
- Economic Crime Wing —Mandate to protect Pakistan from economic terrorism and protection of intellectual property rights of the people..
- Immigration Wing —Combat human trafficking activities and resist illegal immigration in Pakistan.
- Technical Wing —Tasked to make efforts to protect Pakistan against foreign intelligence operations and espionage as well as using scientific assistance to resolve high-technology crimes.
- Legal Branch —Responsible to provide legal guidance in all administrative and operational matters as well as protect civil rights.
- National Central Bureau —Tasked to combat transnational/national criminal organisations and enterprises with assistance from Interpol and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
- Anti Trafficking Unit —Tasked to combat major violent crimes, to ensure country-wide coverage of human trafficking, as well as to prevent and protect the victims of trafficking.
History
Background
In 1942, the British government established the Special Police Establishment in British India during the midst of World War II. Originally the Police Establishment was tasked to take up investigation of corruption in Indian Civil Service, rampant in the Supplies and Procurement Department of the then British Raj. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the SPE was equally divided between the governments of India, which formed the CBI, and Pakistan, which retained it as the Pakistan Special Police Establishment in 1947. With the passage of time, the PSPE, apart from investigating the offences of bribery and corruption against officials of the federal government, was also given powers to investigate cases relating to offences under the following laws:- Official Secret Act, 1923
- Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947
- Passport Offenses Act, 1952
- Customs Act, 1959
Creation
When the FIA was created, it took cases ON corruption at every level of the government. 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.
National security and efforts against terrorism
Initially, its role was to conduct investigations on public corruption but the scope of the FIA's investigation was increased to take actions against communist terrorism in the 1980s. In 1981, the FIA agents successfully investigated and interrogated the culprits behind the hijacking of a Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 720 CR, immediately holding Murtaza Bhutto for its responsibility. The FIA keenly tracked the whereabouts of Murtaza Bhutto in Syria, and successfully limited the influence of his al-Zulfikar group. 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 key drug lord.From 1982 to 1988, the FIA launched a series of investigations and probes against Pakistan Communist Party leader Jam Saqi and aided the court proceedings relating to its findings. In 1986, the FIA successfully infiltrated the terrorist group responsible for hijacking Pan Am Flight 73, and quickly detained the Libyan commercial pilot suspected of having a role in the hijack.
After securing voting plurality in 1993 Pakistani general elections, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto further widened the scope of FIA, making FIA akin to Inter-Services Intelligence in the intelligence community. After approving the appointment of senior FIA agent Rehman Malik, the FIA's intelligence and investigations were now conducted at the international level, with close co-ordination with the American FBI. The FIA notably worked together with the FBI to conduct investigations of the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center in New York, United States. The FIA and FBI tracked down the mastermind of that bombing, Ramzi Yousef, in Pakistan. 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 against al-Qaeda operatives, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi Yousef, and assisted the FBI to apprehend Youssef in 1995, and Mohammed in 2002. The FIA pushed its efforts against terrorism and tracked crime syndicated organisations affiliated with the terrorist organisations. The FIA was said to be launching secret intelligence operations against the terrorist organisations, which mounted a secret competition with the ISI. Despite difficulties, the FIA had gained world prominence after reportedly leading successful operations against terrorism in 1996.
In 2001, the FIA successfully investigated the case against Sultan Mahmood for his alleged part in nuclear terrorism, though the FIA cleared Mahmood of his charges in 2002. In 2003, the role of counter-terrorism was assigned to the FIA, which led to an establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Wing. The CTW agents were provided extensive training and equipment handling by the FBI under the Anti Terrorism Assistance Program.
The FIA began investigating Khalid 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. Eventually FIA's successful investigations led to Mohammed's capture in Rawalpindi, Punjab, in a paramilitary operation conducted jointly by the CIA and the ISI in 2003. In 2002, the FIA continued its investigation and had strict surveillance of the movements of Afia Siddiqui in Karachi. In 2003, the FIA had been investigating the investigation on Siddiqui's movements and activities, subsequently sharing with the United States.
Anti-infringement efforts
Efforts on probes against copyright violation was increased after a petition was filed by the FBI which disputed Pakistan's commitment to rooting out infringement within its national borders in 2001.In 2002, the FIA launched several probes against copyright infringement and Pakistan was en route to having its US duty-free GSP agreements being taken away from it in 2005. To avert any further negative fallout, sections of the Copyright Ordinance 1962 were included in the FIA's schedule of offences. 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.
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. A spokesman from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 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.
Intelligence Operations
In 1972–73, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto adopted many recommendations of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission's papers after seeing the intelligence failure in East Pakistan. This led the reformation of the FIA as Prime Minister Bhutto visioned the FIA as equivalent to American FBI 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 of Alsos Mission of Manhattan Project.Both FIA and IB were empowered during the government and the scope of their operation was expanded during 1970s. Though ISI did lost its importance in 1970s, the ISI valued its importance in 1980s after successfully running the military intelligence program against the Soviet 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.
In 1990s, the ISI and FIA, in many ways, were at war in the poverty-stricken landscape of Pakistan politics. The ISI used its Islamic guerrillas as deniable foot soldiers to strike at FIA credibility, and according to published accounts, the FIA turned to Israeli Mossad and Israeli Intelligence Community through Pervez Musharraf to helped down the terrorist networks in the country. Throughout the 1990s, the intelligence community remained under fire and competition in each services for credibility.
After the 11 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 exiled Osama bin Laden. Same as just after 9/11 attacks in the United States, the FIA gained credibility over the ISI in the United States. The FIA and ISI were also mentioned in The Path to 9/11 television series.
Special FIA teams
On 9 June 1975, the FIA formed the Immigration Wing to help NARA agents and officials to conduct probes against illegal immigration to Pakistan. In 1979, the Anti-Human Smuggling Wing was formed to take evasive actions against the human smugglers and trafficking. In 1975, another special team, the Technical Wing, was formed to tackle financial crimes.In 2003, the FIA formed an elite counter-terrorism unit to help deal with exterminating terrorism in the country. Named Counter-Terrorism Wing, it acts as an Elite team in related procedures and all counter-terrorism cases. Also the same year, the FIA formed the Cyber Investigation Unit and the Computer Analysis and Forensic Laboratory.
Since then, the FIA has assigned its agents, and officials have received physical training and electronic equipment from the United States. In 2011, the CTW was further expanded and FIA established another Terrorist Financing Investigation Unit to conduct and lead operations against terrorism financing. 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 the most wanted list of individuals involved indirectly or directly in taking part in terrorism. In 2008, the FIA successfully led and concluded the joint investigations on the Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad. The FIA shared most of its findings gathered through interrogation of the arrested suspects to help hunt down the top members of al-Qaeda, with the FBI.
Other FIA special teams included the Anti-Corruption Wing which was established in 2004 to lead probes against corrupt officials and other white collar criminals. In 2004, the Economic Crime Wing was also established in 2004 but transferred to the NAB; though it was restored to the FIA in 2008. In 2014, the FIA formed an elite response team with the National Counter Terrorism Authority agency to take decisive and through counter-terrorism actions, based on gained internal intelligence, against the terror groups.
Criticisms and controversies
Covert operations on political groups
The FIA has used covert operations against domestic political groups since its inception; the FIA launched covert operations against the right-wing activists of the PNA. In 1990s, the FIA was involved in running active intelligence operation against the Bonded Labour Liberation Front on behest of the government. Critics of FIA have called the agency "secret police". In the 1980s, the FIA also targeted Pakistani leftist groups and was instrumental in conducting inquiries in preparation against the Communist Party of Pakistan.2005 FIA scandal
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. The special 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.2008 Lahore bombings
On 11 March 2008, the Pakistani Taliban coordinated the twin suicide bombings to target the counter-terrorist unit of FIA based in Lahore. The building was severely damaged during the suicidal attack. The Geo 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.International access
Cooperation with foreign counterparts
In 2006, the FIA resumed operational links with its Indian counterpart, the Central Bureau of Investigation, after a gap of 17 years.The FIA participates in the PISCES project which was initiated by the US Department of State, Terrorist Interdiction Program in 1997, as a system to improve their watch-listing capabilities by providing a mainframe computer system to facilitate immigration processing. The PISCES system has been installed at seven major airports of the country i.e. Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan and Faisalabad airports. The system has provision to accommodate information on suspects from all law enforcement agencies like Immigration, Police, Narcotics Control, Anti-smuggling, and Intelligence Services.
Organization
The FIA is headed by the appointed Director-General who is appointed by the Prime Minister, and confirmed by the President. Appointment for the Director of FIA either comes from the high-ranking officials of police or the civil bureaucracy. The DG FIA reports to the Interior Secretary of Pakistan. The Director General of the FIA is assisted by three Additional Director-Generals and ten Directors for effective monitoring and smooth functioning of the operations spread all over the country.The FIA is headquartered in Islamabad and also maintains a separate training FIA Academy, also in Islamabad which was opened in 1976. In 2002, FIA formed a specialised wing for investigating Information and Communication Technology related crimes. This wing is commonly known as the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes and has the credit of arresting 12 hackers, saving millions of dollars for the government exchequer. 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.
Organization structure
The organizational structure of the Federal Investigation Agency is as follows:| Administrative offices and wings | Executive figure | Commands and the area of responsibility |
| Immigration Wing | Additional DG | Director of PISCES program Director of Immigration Director of AHS Dy. Director of ATU Dy. Director of Law Dy. Director of Legal Organization |
| National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes | DG | |
| Crime wing | Additional DG | Director of Technical Ops. Director of Law Director of I&M Director of IPR Dy. Director of Crimes Dy. Director of Technical Ops. |
| Administration Wing | Additional DG | Commandant of FIA Academy Director of Administration Director of Engineering Director of Accountings |
| Counter Terrorism Wing | Director | Deputy commandant Operations Deputy commandant Intelligence |
| Punjab | Director | |
| Sindh | Director | |
| Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa | Director | |
| Balochistan | Director | |
| Islamabad | Director | |
| National Central Bureau | Director |