Federal Investigation Agency Essay Example

Administration Wing. Further, there are branches working under the command of above-mentioned Wings viz Counter terrorism branch (SIG), Interpol branch, Legal branch, Crime branch, Economic crime branch, Intellectual Property Rights branch, Immigration branch, Anti-Human Smuggling branch, PISCES branch, Administration branch, Implementation and monitoring branch. The FIA has its headquarters in Islamabad. The agency is led by the FIA Director General, who reports to the Interior Ministry of Pakistan.

The Director General is nominated by Interior Ministry and confirmed by the Federal Government. The Director General may serve a term of three years or until the Government may required to serve. The FIA has field offices located in major cities. The FIA has about 3600 employees. Nearly 200 are special agents or members from crime & SIG groups, who have the authority to make arrests and use firearms. The rest are professional support personnel, a category that includes chemists, psychologists, language specialists, computer specialists, attorneys, clerical workers and many other types of employees.

The FIA’s annual budget is approximately Rs. and is appropriated by the Federal Government of Pakistan. FIA headquarters comprises the following segments down to provinces: the Administrative Services Division, the Counterintelligence Division, the Counterterrorism Division, the Criminal Investigative Division, the Cybercrime Division, the Finance Division, the Information Resources Division, the Investigative Technologies Division, the Laboratory Division, the Records Management Division, the Security Division, and the Training Division.

A Deputy Director heads each division and executive assistant directors supervise groups of divisions. The headquarters also includes a number of offices, including the Office of Public Affairs, the Office of Professional Responsibility, the Office of the General Counsel, and the Office of

Equal Employment Opportunity. Jurisdiction and Investigative Responsibilities [edit] Raids by the FIA Members are conducted with empty hands as they have no weapon to use for their protection in Crime Circles. Only the SIG branch keeps weapon. The FIA has the broadest jurisdiction (investigative authority) of all Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.

It is authorized to investigate all Federal criminal violations that the Parliament of Pakistan has not specifically assigned to other Federal Agencies. It may investigate other matters at the orders of the President, Prime Minister, Attorney General and Provinces of Pakistan or if authorized under a law passed by Parliament. This mandate stands in contrast to other Federal law enforcement agencies, which have other missions to do. The FIA investigates hundreds of different Federal crimes, including organized crime, spurious drug trafficking, espionage, terrorism, bank robbery, extortion and kidnapping etc.

The agency is responsible for investigating Federal civil rights violations, such as police brutality and racial violence (if assigned). The FIA also investigates so-called white-collar crimes, such as money laundering, bank fraud, embezzlement and corruption of all Federal Government departments (excluded Armed Forces) election-law violations, environmental crimes, and computer-related crimes (some of them if assigned). Additionally, it handles cases involving threats or actual violence against the President, Prime Minister and members of Parliament & Senate (if assigned).

In all cases, the FIA presents the results of its investigations to Federal Government through Interior Ministry who decide whether to prosecute suspects in the law courts. In conducting investigations, the FIA frequently works with Local, Provincial, Federal and international law enforcement organizations. For example, the FIA works with the Local Police, Interpol and with

other Military intelligence agencies to prevent foreign spies from obtaining Pakistan National Security secrets. Enquiring into criminal activities, the FIA can cross provincial and country borders.

It investigates interstate criminal activity and can arrest fugitives who cross state lines to avoid prosecution. Although the FIA is not usually authorized to make arrests in foreign countries but the agency works with law enforcement agencies abroad to apprehend suspects wanted in crimes. The FIA also conducts non-criminal inquiries. It researches the backgrounds of Pakistan Supreme Court nominees, Cabinet nominees, and other presidential appointees to help the federal Government so that these candidates be confirmed (if assigned).

It also conducts background checks on people who apply for employment in the FIA, Justice Department, President House, Nuclear Commission and certain other government departments (if assigned). Finally, the FIA may collect evidence in civil suits involving Federal Government. Among functions of FIA specifically are investigations of counterfeiting and violations of Federal laws. Intelligence activities aimed at foreign countries, related to the National Security of Pakistan are generally carried out by the ISI.

However, the FIA does investigate terrorism outside of Pakistan when directed against Pakistan citizens or interests & embassies. Members [edit] Trainees at the FIA Academy (Members-in-training) Islamabad. New recruits at the academy undergo several weeks of professional training required by FIA special members. FIA members are responsible for conducting investigations. They perform their duties mainly from the field offices located around the country; they are guided by supervisors in the field offices and at headquarters.

Members are responsible for gathering information and evidence about possible criminal activity that may be used by federal prosecutors

in courts. To carry out their duties, FIA members are entrusted with some special powers. They can place suspects under arrest with permission of the courts, they can eavesdrop on private phone conversations, videotape what goes on in people’s homes, open mailboxes and read mail and obtain telephone bills, income tax returns and other confidential documents.

They can also subpoena witnesses to testify before a jury. While pursuing suspects, they are authorized to break traffic laws by showing their credentials. If necessary, they can request to get help from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and foreign governments. But unless members are on bureau business and have proper authorization, they have no more power than any other citizens. People seeking employment as FIA members must be Pakistani citizens at least 21 years old but no older than 28.

Applicants must have a degree from a college or university for officer rank. The agency prefers those with law or other professional degrees because they can more easily understand federal criminal laws and financial crimes, respectively. It also admits applicants with expertise in languages and those with a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of relevant work experience. Applicants must also be in excellent in physical condition. New members undergo several weeks of intensive training at the FIA Academy & other Police training centers etc. where they learn about federal laws, crime investigation, firearms use, defensive tactics, and other subjects.

Law enforcement services

As the sophisticated law enforcement agency in Pakistan, the FIA plays a central and indispensable role in assisting local, provincial, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. This assistance includes

fingerprint identification, laboratory analysis of criminal evidence, criminal profiling, police training and maintenance of a central crime information database and publication of crime statistics.

Fingerprint identification

Fingerprint Analysis storing fingerprint records in computers have made it much easier for the FIA to identify latent fingerprints—fingerprints left at the scene of a crime. Every person has a unique set of fingerprints, a fact that allows police officers to identify suspected criminals from fingerprints found at a crime scene. The FIA serves as the central expert for fingerprint identification in Pakistan. Types of Human fingerprint patterns fall into three main groups: whorls, loops, and arches. Loops are the most common type, accounting for about 65 percent of all fingerprints.

Whorls account for 30 percent of fingerprints, and arches for 5 percent. Despite these broad patterns, each individual has a unique set of fingerprints, which can be used as a means of personal identification.

Police training

The FIA Academy founded in 1975 and located in Islamabad. The Academy, offers advanced trainings to selected and executive-level officers from FIA, Provincial Police, Armed Forces & various other departments of the government. All courses cover leadership and management skills, law, communications, forensic science, health and fitness.

At FIA academy the officer from across the country are offered with hundreds of specialized courses on hostage negotiation, fingerprints, criminal psychology, computer crime, law and other topics. The FIA publishes FIA monthly Newsletter for information. The monthly magazine founded in 19?? , features information on the latest issues in law enforcement operations and administration achievements of officers are also highlighted to appreciate their hard work.

Under Bhutto

government

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the founder of the FIA.

He conceived the view that the Federal Government of the United States of America having a good law enforcement agency FBI which not only protects the country from internal crises but also from foreign suspected threats therefore he established the FIA on the same pattern. The FIA was empowered most during Bhutto government. FIA officers could also investigate issues, affairs and corruption of Politicians, Civil and Armed Forces officers. But during the government of General Zia-ul-Haq the FIA was used into political issues to subdue political rivals.

This resulted in collateral damage of the Agency. Since the time of General Zia-ul-Haq the very powers of the agency have been curtailed. Therefore corruption at the federal level increased too much. The actual concept of agency was fade. Whereas FBI is being delegated with more powers keeping the changing scenario of the world in view. Some officers and political personalities tired to lift up the FIA, keeping perspectives of the FBI but political hindrances, insufficiency of funds & shortage of required equipment made it impossible to stand with FBI of United States.

September 11 attacks

Just after, September 11, 2001, the attacks in the United States history, which completely destroyed the World Trade Center Buildings and severely damaged the Pentagon, the U. S. military headquarters outside of Washington, D. C. More than 3,000 people died in the attacks. The FBI launched the largest investigation in its history and soon determined that the hijackers were linked to al-Qaeda, led by Saudi exiled Osama bin Laden.

Later that year, the agency investigated

the mailing of several letters containing potentially lethal anthrax bacteria to media companies and political offices, but it was unable to identify any suspects. Same as just after September, 11 attacks the FIA also came into strict vigilance and launched huge operation in its history against suspected subjects. With the assistance of United States government the FIA Immigration wing was equipped with the most modern computer software technology (PISCES) system. Through this high-tech computer devises, it is nearly impossible for delinquents to cross the boarders illegally.

FIA Immigration wing has also successfully decreased the ratio of illegal immigration which regarded it with appreciations from all the Nations of World. Drawbacks [edit] There is no general awareness in common people about the FIA some people frequently ask this question “Is there any department made to control corruption of federal departments? ” because the FIA did not advertise about its very existence for general awareness of common people, resulting the common people have no idea about the FIA to redress their grievances against any federal department.

Only educated people have knowledge about the FIA. There is also a solid reason about general ignorance of the common people that field offices of the FIA are situated in only major cities of the country so the people from remote areas have no or little approach to the Agency, in this concern the circles or the field offices may be extended to the district level for an easy approach of the common man. The FIA should also be equipped with latest technology according to needs and necessities of present time.

Funds, equipment and training of the FIA

members must be revamped. A great care should be given in selection of officers of the Agency because FIA has to perform sophisticated and technical type of task like FBI of United States of America. Ordinary police officer cannot handle the technical and complex type of matters e. g. enquiries & investigations regarding Banks, Corporations and immigration etc. Salaries Benefits and FIA employees draw very poor salaries and other benefits for them that’s why corruption cannot be controlled in Pakistan.