Jan Muhammad gets additional charge of DG FIA

ISLAMABAD: Additional Director General (DG) of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Jan Muhammad has been given the additional charge of DG FIA until a permanent appointment is made.

The Ministry of Interior issued formal directives for Jan’s appointment, who is a Grade 21 senior police officer. 

This move follows the removal of DG FIA Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir on Wednesday over delays in investigations into boat incidents and the failure to curb large-scale illegal migration and human trafficking. 

Sources revealed that the Ministry of Interior had sent a summary to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recommending his removal.

Who is Jan Muhammad?

According to this LinkedIn profile, Jan is a graduate of The Pakistan Naval Academy, the National Police Academy, and The National School of Public Policy. 

As Additional DG FIA, he had been supervising the work of administration, human resource management, finance and budgeting, and professional training departments. He had also been chairing board responsible for promotion and recruitment, and budget preparation and allocation.

He served as Inspector General of Islamabad Capital Territory Police from June 2018 to October 2018. He was transferred for allegedly refusing to take action on a complaint filed by the then federal minister Azam Swati’s son about trespassing on their farmhouse in Chak Shehzad.

“I have a combined Military & Law Enforcement experience of 40 years i.e. 8 years of commissioned service in Pakistan Navy as a Logistics Officer (Supply Chain Management), and 32 years of active law enforcement, including almost 2 years in The UN Mission in Kosovo,” Jan’s LinkedIn bio reads.

“During my law enforcement career, I have conducted and managed investigations, crime prevention/control operations, crowd control operations, event security, executive protection, premises security, static/mobile security, conducted security audits and threat analyses, as well as managed/administered police forces ranging in size from 2000-5000 personnel. I have also done professional capacity building courses with ICITAP USA and with New Scotland Yard Special Branch UK.”

Regular Appointment DG FIA

For the regular appointment of the DG FIA, Interior Ministry will send a summary to the federal cabinet. Sources claimed that the Establishment Division has begun shortlisting candidates for the position of the new FIA chief. 

Reportedly, Additional Secretary of Interior Salman Chaudhry is being considered for the position of DG FIA. He previously served as IG Motorway Police and recently led a four-member team to Morocco to investigate a boat incident. Salman Chaudhry presented the investigation report to the prime minister, who appreciated his performance. 

Meanwhile, the FIA Immigration conducted a major operation at Multan Airport, recovering 6,700 SIM cards from a passenger named Muhammad Zohaib, who had arrived from the UK on flight QR 618. The suspect, who hails from Vehari, has been taken into custody.