FIA Director Chaudhry Ashfaq says no case would be registered against any FCCI member without bringing it to FCCI president’s notice
FAISALABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Chaudhry Ashfaq said there would be no harassment of business community.
He was talking to Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Rizwan Ashraf during his visit.
Ashfaq, accompanied by his aide Ali Akbar, discussed matters of general interest in a frank, free and congenial atmosphere.
He said that the purpose of his visit to the FCCI was to cultivate good cordial working relationship with this apex trade body representing the entire business community of Faisalabad.
He said that FIA was one of the state institutions mandated to check loot, plunder and fraud cases, particularly white-collared crimes. He said that he would try his best to focus on these objectives without involving in petty cases of electricity and gas theft.
He categorically assured the FIA would abstain from taking any action against business community, however, if deemed necessary; action would be taken in consultation with the FCCI president.
“I have already directed my staff that no case against any FCCI member should be registered without bringing it into the notice of the FCCI president,” he added.
The FIA director also provided his contact number with a request to inform him immediately if any case of harassment was reported. “You could also contact me if any other department tries to blackmail you people,” he said and assured to resolve such cases without any delay.
Ashraf stressed the need to promote pleasant interaction and understanding between the two organisations as their ultimate objectives were to serve Pakistan.
“Hence we both should be on same page while taking action against any businessman,” he said. The FCCI president clarified that cases of power and electricity thefts were negligible and the statistics of FESCO and SNGPL also confirmed this. Hence there was no need of any direct action by FIA, he opined.
Ashraf also said that a majority of businessmen and government functionaries were law abiding people with exception of a few black sheep present in every department or sector.
Quoting previous raids on different industrial units, he said the organisation should be issued a commendation certificate if found clean in the raid to compensate the negative social impacts of such drastic actions.
