ISLAMABAD: Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) has sought some amendments in anti-money laundering laws and demanded more power in this regard. Director General Shaukat Ali has decided to take up the matter with the Federal Board of Revenue in details.
According to the sources, the director general proposed that sections related to obtain court permission before investigation of the money laundering cases should be omitted in the Money Laundering Act, and give full investigation powers to the Directorate General Customs Intelligence and Investigations and the other authorities concerned such as DG IR I&I, Federal Investigation Agency and National Accountability Bureau.
Directorate General recently faced some hurdles in court proceedings while pursuing money laundering case against super model Ayyan Ali, where Customs Special Court Rawalpindi rejected the requests of the Customs Intelligence three times for the investigation of money laundering charges against her and now the appeal against the Customs Court decision is still pending in the Islamabad High Court.
According to the sources Federal Board of Revenue is also in favor of the proposal and has decided to put forward to the finance ministry for further deliberation. It is very much expected that ministry of finance may be approve the proposal.
