PAKISTAN: FIA reference action in Quetta, dealers took the team hostage

In Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and security agencies have seized more than Rs 1 million in foreign exchange in a crackdown on those involved in the illegal buying and selling of foreign currency. 

During Tuesday's action, dealers took the FIA ​​and media teams hostage and damaged TV stations' vehicles. The dealers have also blocked the road and registered their protest. 

Muhammad Ali Abaro, deputy director of the FIA ​​Merchant Bank District of Balochistan, told media representatives in Quetta during a conference that "Based on the State Bank's submissions and leads, the FIA ​​has taken action against those conducting illegal foreign exchange transactions in Quetta. 

In the last month, raids have been carried out on 11 different locations. Four defendants were arrested and two cases were registered. 

He said that in connection with this campaign, the foreign exchange shops at the Bukhari Center in Quetta's Kandahari Bazaar were raided today and many shops were sealed and their records confiscated. 

The FIA ​​official said several arrests were made during the operation after more than a million rupees worth of foreign currency was recovered. These people carried out foreign exchange transactions without permission from the State Bank. 

"The cash seized incorporates the monetary forms of Iran, India, China, Turkey, the US and the Assembled Middle Easterner Emirates." Muhammad Ali Abro said that "illegal tax avoidance was likewise distinguished."

The FIA ​​has found evidence linking 15 agents to Handi. Pakistani and foreign currencies are smuggled into Afghanistan. During the proceedings, the traders did not cooperate and interfered with the Kar Sarkar. 

“During the FIA ​​operation, angry traders blocked the main gate of the market and took the attending media hostage along with the raid team. 

The FIA ​​team has asked the police for help to bring the situation under control. A strong police presence arrived at the scene and dispersed the protesters. 

Vendors burned tires outside the market, blocking the road to traffic. The protesters claimed that the FIA ​​team harassed the businessmen and illegally demanded money from them. 

Irfan Saeed, president of the Balochistan Journalists' Union, said that some people who took part in the traders' protests blew out the tires of six TV channels' satellite vehicles and beat up the staff against whom the city police station had applied to register the case. . has given.'