RETIRED LT. COL AND EIGHT OTHERS ARRESTED ON SPYING CHARGES

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was recently briefed about such networks during his visit to the ISI headquarters

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested nine persons including a retired Lt. Col on spying charges. These persons were allegedly sharing secret and sensitive information with the foreign agents. The accused were produced before the court.

According to reports, a spying network working for a foreign intelligence agency was traced and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA arrested nine suspects from the network, of whom two are seeking post-arrest bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The matter came to light when Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC heard the case and adjourned the hearing until Aug 10. According to the court’s documents, the accused were involved “in spying activities in the Ministry of Defence Production”.

In a similar case, the IHC had in June dismissed the post-arrest bail petition of a senior official working on the Chinese desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was “spying for Russian intelligence”. Syed Qalb-e-Abbas a BS-18 official of the Ministry of Planning and Development who was posted in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on deputation, was arrested on spying charges.

The court had dismissed his bail petition because he was facing charges of leaking sensitive information and had been booked under sections 3 and 4 of the Official Secrets Act. The accused in the present case have been charged under the same sections of the Official Secrets Act, besides sections 34, 109 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The court record and some media reports show that the accused were serving and retired officials of the Ministry of Defence Production, or private contractors dealing with defence-related purchases, and were involved in stealing secret information and sharing it with the agent of a foreign intelligence agency.

The accused who have been arrested so far are Safdar Rehman, Tafzeelur Rehman, Mohammad Waqar, Mohammad Ashfaq, Mohammad Tahir, Mujtaba Hussain, Mohammad Ashraf, retired Lt Col Irfan Hameed Kiani and Ahmed Kiani.

As per the court’s documents, after getting a tip off from intelligence agencies, FIA arrested an ex-employee of the Directorate General of Defence Purchase, Ministry of Defence Production, who was planning a meeting with “a diplomat/foreign intelligence agent with the intent to communicate and deliver secret information/documents prejudicial to the safety and interest of the country”.

It was revealed that the accused were in the business of selling information to a foreign spying agency. FIA also recovered cash and mobile phones from the accused. Initially an FIR was lodged against three persons, namely Safdar, Tafzeel and Ashfaq. However, following disclosures made by them the other accused were also arrested, including military contractors Lt Col Irfan Kiani and Ahmed Kiani, the owner of Core Corporation (Pvt) Limited.

The Core Group, which deals in military and defence projects in the energy sector, claims having collaboration with various manufacturers in Asia, Europe and the Americas in brands, commodities, technology and infrastructure. As per the allegations, Lt Col Kiani and his son Ahmed have been receiving secret/confidential documents from one of the accused, Safdar, so that the same could be provided to a foreign agent. FIA recovered confidential documents related to defence purchases and defence production from their custody.

Some electronic devices/gadgets were also recovered that have been sent for forensic analysis, say the court papers. Lt Col Kiani and Ahmed, who have both been confined to the Adiala Jail, filed the post-arrest bail petition in the IHC.

Appearing on behalf of the federal government, Additional Attorney General Qasim Wadud filed an application that stated the government intends to place some highly sensitive information on judicial record. He requested for an in-camera hearing so that the government could easily present its stance in the case.

It may be mentioned here that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was recently briefed about such network during his visit to the ISI headquarters. The prime minister upon receiving the briefing asked the agency to launch a relentless crackdown again all those who have been involved in selling secrets to enemies.

It was after the directions of the prime minister that action against all such elements has been intensified. Reports suggest, the foreign agents who were found involved in the business have been called back as their indemnity stood compromised. Further action in this regard continues and it is expected that more arrest shall be made in the coming days.