FIA launches crackdown against steel dealers in Pak Steel probe

[Naveed Yaseen]

RIZWAN BHATTI
KARACHI (August 22 2009): The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), widening its scope of investigation, has launched crackdown against the dealers of Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC), sources told Business Recorder on Friday. On the directive of federal government, FIA already had initiated investigation against the sacked chairman of Pakistan Steel, Mueen Aftab Sheikh, and now it has decided to involve steel dealers in the investigation.

Mueen was sacked on corruption charges three days back by the Prime Minister. After that FIA has started probe in the country's largest steel plant. Sources said that with a list of PSMC dealers, some FIA officials visited the steel markets in Kharadar and verbally asked over 150 new dealers to report at FIA economic circle office.

"Two different teams of four or five FIA officials on Thursday evening visited our markets and asked Steel Mills dealers to meet Deputy Director FIA at his office for investigation," said a dealer of Pakistan Steel. The sacked chairman had granted about 200 new dealerships in 2008, out of which some 158 belong to Karachi, he said, and added that now the FIA officials are threatening them and calling for different inquiries.

However, it is interesting that FIA officials only verbally asked the new dealers to come to FIA office near passport office, in Sadar. When the dealers demanded written notice, FIA officials refused to produce. The visit of FIA team has created panic in the steel market, and dealers have decided to launch protest against harassment by FIA, he said.

"In protest against FIA clampdown on the steel dealers, we have completely shut down our five major steel markets, including Jillani Market, Kheri Market, Asghari Market, Jubilee Market and Liaqat Market," he said. Markets will remain closed on Saturday till the solution of matter, he said.

"It's an attempt to change the line of action and focus on the dealers instead of sacked chairman," he said, and added: "Our dealership applications were pending for last many years and finally last year we got Pakistan Steel dealership after fulfilling all formalities".

Meanwhile, steel dealers have refused to visit FIA office without written notice and to seek help they approached Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). KCCI president Anjum Nisar has contacted Shaukat Tarin, Minister for Finance, on the issue and the minister has assured that he would talk with minister of interior Rehman Malik, sources said.

Minister, Finance has said that "it would not be done in this manner, and I will personally talk with Rehman Malik", they said. Sources said that FIA again visited PSMC offices and took some more office record of steel products distribution, purchasing, allocation of quota and some admin files to probe against the sacked chairman. Meanwhile, several attempts were made to take version of FIA officials. However, Director FIA Karachi Mir Zubair and Deputy Director Khaliq uz Zaman did not their phone calls.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=951808