LAHORE: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) former director Mohammad Rizwan who probed the money laundering charges against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz died of a heart attack on Monday.

Rizwan went on long leave just before the formation of the PMLN-led coalition government and was later transferred from the office of FIA Lahore director last month. His name was also placed on the no-fly list.

According to a family member, Mr Rizwan, 47, suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours on Monday and he was shifted to hospital where he was pronounced dead. His funeral will be held here on Tuesday (today).

Mr Rizwan belonged to the police service and had the rank of DIG. During his posting as FIA Lahore chief Mr Rizwan also probed into money laundering and market manipulation charges against sugar baron Jahangir Khan Tareen (who is currently supporting the ruling PML-N) and former federal industries minister Khusro Bakhtiar and his family members and two sugar mills of media houses.

The FIA investigators under Mr Rizwan had detected Rs110 billion earning by the sugar mafia during the PTI rule through ‘speculative pricing’. Further action in the sugar scam was halted due to political reasons.

In the money laundering probe, the investigation team under Mr Rizwan had detected 28 benami accounts of the Shehbaz family through which money laundering of over Rs14bn was committed during 2008-18. The money (Rs14bn) received from the accounts of low-wage employees by Shehbaz was transferred outside Pakistan via hundi/hawala networks, ultimately destined for beneficial use of his family members, according to the FIA.

Former prime minister Imran Khan expressed his condolences over the death of Mr Rizwan. “Saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Rizwan one of the most upright & courageous officers who withstood pressure while investigation & preparing the Rs 16 bn money laundering case against Crime Minister SS. My condolences & prayers go to his family,” Khan said in a tweet.

Published in Dawn,May 10th, 2022