A local court in Lahore extended on Friday the physical remand of six officials of the National Counter Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in a bribery and misuse of power case. The officials were presented before Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo after the expiry of their earlier three-day physical remand. The court directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce the accused again on November 3 as the investigation continues.
The case was registered against the officials following a complaint filed by Aroob Jatoi, wife of well-known digital creator Saadur Rehman, popularly known as Ducky Bhai. The complaint accused the NCCIA officers of taking substantial bribes and misusing their official authority. The accused officials include Additional Director Chaudhry Sarfraz, Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz, Ali Raza, Zawar, Yasir Gujjar, and others. During Friday’s hearing, FIA presented them in handcuffs before the magistrate and submitted an interim investigation report.
According to the FIA’s report, an estimated Rs42.5 million has been recovered from the officials during the investigation. The agency stated that the recovered amount supports the ongoing inquiry into allegations of bribery and unlawful financial gains. The FIA also informed the court that the accused officers are considered “highly trained,” making the interrogation process more intricate, as investigators are examining records of previous cases and financial details linked to the officials. Additionally, a separate inquiry into assets beyond known means has been initiated against them to identify possible evidence of illicit enrichment.
During the proceedings, defense counsel Advocate Munir Bhatti contested the FIA’s claims, arguing that the agency has not produced any credible evidence proving a single financial transaction. He asserted that the case has been exaggerated on social media platforms, making it difficult for the accused to expect a fair and unbiased trial. Bhatti further stated that the involvement of high-profile offices, including the prime minister, chief minister, chief justice of Pakistan, and Punjab IGP, through notices and public commentary, has compromised the impartiality of the process.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court decided to extend the physical remand for another three days to allow FIA to complete its inquiry. The agency was instructed to present the accused officials again before the court on November 3, along with updates on the progress of the ongoing investigation. The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of NCCIA officers, who were previously responsible for overseeing operations related to crime prevention and investigation within the agency.
This development marks another phase in the inquiry as FIA continues its efforts to uncover details surrounding the alleged bribery and misuse of power within NCCIA. The outcome of the extended investigation and the findings related to the additional inquiry into assets are expected to determine the next legal steps once the case resumes next week.
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