Jan.31, 2010

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik Saturday said that dollar gained against the rupee due to currency smuggling and money laundering. Some banks and some employees of the State Bank are involved in currency smuggling and orders have been issued to take strict action against them.

Talking to journalists here after meeting dealers of 19 companies of the National Crisis Management Cell, Rehman Malik said money laundering will not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against those who would challenge the government writ.

He said foreign currency dealers who did not have licence of the State Bank are not allowed to run currency business and strict action would be taken against those running currency business without licence.

He alleged that dollar is being smuggled to Afghanistan. He said that a special team of FIA has been formed to stop currency smuggling through airports. FIA personnel deployed at the airports would strictly check the passengers, and if any official was found indulged in currency smuggling, FIR would be registered against him. He said the FIA has also been given the authority to investigate those passengers who carry large amounts of currency.

The interior minister said hawalas and currency smugglers should stop their business now and Pakistanis living in foreign countries should stop money exchange through hawalas, and if any one was found indulged in this business, his business accounts would be seized.

He said he had discussed the currency smuggling with the federal finance minister and the illegal business would be controlled soon.

He said that a committee has been formed for resolving the problems faced by money exchangers and meeting of the committee would be held within next four days.

He announced to extend the deadline for deportation of foreigners, including Bengalis and Burmese from Karachi after political meddling from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

Rehman Malik said behind the facade of illegal foreigners patriotic Bengalis could not be deported and after the political pressure from the Sindh governor and few leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party 30 days deadline was given for deportation of the foreigners, which has been relaxed as Nadra and Nara had also demanded more time for registration of these foreigners.

The minister those who registered themselves would be allowed to stay here and Nadra and Nara would issue them cards.

He said a committee has been constituted under the supervision of the federal additional interior secretary for registration and survey of the foreigners.

This committee would see as to how many foreigners are living in the city and since how long they are living and registered here.

The committee would also look for legal ways to deport these foreigners and after that the process of their deportation would be started.

Rehman Malik said that registration of foreigners is continuing. Beharis and Bengalis are Pakistan lovers, and they would not be deported; however, those foreigners who are living illegally would not be tolerated.

Rehman Malik said that the Karachi Ashura blast was not a suicide attack and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jandullah and al-Qaeda were involved.

He said negotiations would be held with only those Taliban who would surrender before the government. He said 37 accused have been arrested and they are being interrogated. He said that Bolton Market incident is being probed, and its report would be made public and the perpetrators would be punished soon.

Answering a question, he said that CCTV footage of Karachi incident is being reviewed, and the culprits would be brought to justice. CCTV cameras are a better system, and such cameras would be installed in Peshawar and Islamabad.

Earlier, the accountability court adjourning the hearing of NAB reference against Rehman Malik till February 12 exempted him from appearing in person before the court.

Rehman Malik’s counsel, Khawaja Naveed, requested the court that according to intelligence reports his client was on the hit list of terrorists; therefore, he be exempted from appearing in person before the court. The court after listening to the arguments accepted his plea.

Rehman Malik has been accused of misusing his power as Additional Director, FIA, in 1995 and awarding his brother-in-law Zaheer Ahmed’s company a contract of 50,000 metric ton charcoal from National Refinery.