FIA sacks officers over negligence in Greece boat tragedy, ties to smugglers

WEB DESK: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has significantly accelerated its internal accountability process, resulting in punitive actions against a substantial number of officers and officials for professional misconduct, negligence, and illicit connections.

In a major disciplinary crackdown, several high-ranking officials have been dismissed from service. Specifically, the Deputy Director of Karachi Airport and two Assistant Directors were terminated for negligence related to the 2023 Greece boat tragedy. An Assistant Director from Faisalabad Airport was also dismissed on similar charges stemming from the same tragic incident, which claimed hundreds of Pakistani lives. Furthermore, an Assistant Database Administrator was fired for negligence.

The agency also took stern action against officers allegedly involved with human smuggling networks. The Deputy Director of Multan Airport was demoted for three years, facing a reduction in both rank and salary over suspected links to human smugglers. This action is connected to the ongoing probe into the Libya boat disaster, which has already seen 30 officers suspended.

Beyond dismissals, the FIA handed down a range of other penalties. Four Assistant Directors and one Inspector were punished with a reduction in their pay scale for periods ranging from one to three years due to prolonged absence and conducting poor quality investigations. Two Senior Investigators were dismissed for carrying out substandard inquiries. In a separate case of prisoner mishandling at Islamabad Airport, an Assistant Director and an Inspector were formally censured.

Upholding these decisions, the Secretary of the Interior, while adjudicating on departmental appeals, rejected the pleas of six Sub-Inspectors, maintaining their suspensions. The appeals of one ASI, three Head Constables, and five Constables against their dismissals were also dismissed. In another case of absenteeism, the appeal of an LDC was rejected, upholding his termination.

This sweeping series of actions underscores the FIA’s renewed commitment to internal cleansing and holding its personnel accountable, particularly in sensitive areas involving international human trafficking tragedies and procedural integrity.