LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld an order for an inquiry against Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Faisalabad officers over allegations of unlawfully seizing cash and vehicles from a Pakistan-origin British national while he was in custody.

Justice Jawad Zafar passed the order, dismissing a petition filed by a private citizen, Akmal Hussain, seeking closure of an inquiry against the FIA officials, including Composite Circle Director Saqib Sultan and Sub-Inspector Ajmal Hussain.

Earlier, Advocate Mian Dawood, the counsel for Pakistani-origin British citizen Salman Babar, appeared before the court and presented the record.

He alleged that his client, who deals in vehicles in the United Kingdom (UK), had returned to Pakistan after 16 years and was targeted by rivals over a family dispute in the UK.

He said the rivals allegedly bribed the FIA officials in Faisalabad and used one Akmal Hussain as a proxy complainant.

He stated that the officials summoned Babar, his brother and relatives to the FIA police station.

He alleged the officials made the British citizen transfer Rs1 million to a bank account of his rivals, while in custody. He said the officials also obtained stamp papers and had documents prepared in favour of the proxy complainant.

The counsel said the British citizen approached a court for cancellation of the documents allegedly obtained under coercion. He also moved the justice of the peace, seeking action against the FIA officials.

He alleged that the FIA officials got offended by the legal proceedings and got a fabricated case of alleged visa fraud involving £104,000 registered against Babar and his brother, on a complaint filed by Akmal Hussain.

However, Advocate Dawood said Hussain failed to establish a money trail for the amount or demonstrate his financial capacity to make such a transaction. He said the complainant also failed to provide any proof of the alleged transfer of the payment.

He said the justice of peace, Faisalabad, subsequently ordered an inquiry against the FIA officials. He asked the court to dismiss the petition and uphold the order passed by the justice of peace.

The complainant, through his counsel Ajmal Adil, argued that the justice of peace passed the impugned order for the inquiry without having such jurisdiction.

He alleged that the impugned order had been passed ignoring reports filed by the officials concerned on the matter.

However, Justice Zafar, dismissed the petition and upheld the order for the inquiry.

The judge expressed concern over the conduct attributed to the FIA officials and observed that such incidents could undermine public confidence in state institutions.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2026