ISLAMABAD — News Desk: In a significant reshuffling within the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), a number of high-level transfers have been made effective immediately, following the appointment of Mr. Riffat Mukhtar as the new Director General (DG) FIA. Among the most notable changes is the long-awaited removal of the controversial Lahore Zone Director, Sarfraz Khan Work, whose tenure had drawn sharp criticism due to serious allegations of corruption and non-compliance with federal directives.
Major Transfer Announced:
According to FIA Notification No. A/2253/HR-I/2025/5108-20, issued on July 7, 2025, the following key changes were made:
- Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Ali Zia (PSP, BS-20) has been appointed as Director FIA Lahore Zone, previously posted at FIA Headquarters Islamabad.
- Sarfraz Khan Work (PSP, BS-20) has been transferred from Director FIA Lahore Zone to FIA Headquarters Islamabad.
The Controversial Tenure of Sarfraz Work:
Sarfraz Work’s stint as Director FIA Lahore was riddled with controversy. While his tenure saw some commendable crackdowns on human trafficking, money laundering, illegal organ transplants, and unauthorized online pharmacies, it was overshadowed by reports of massive corruption and misuse of power.
Numerous intelligence and media reports accused Sarfraz Work of:
- Accumulating illegal assets worth billions of rupees, including alleged transactions routed through his brother.
- Deliberate delays and non-action in major cases, particularly those related to LESCO (Lahore Electric Supply Company) and PASCO (Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation).
- Shielding corrupt officers within FIA Lahore and misusing authority to manipulate internal probes.
A particularly alarming case emerged involving 14 FIA officers accused of electricity theft, corruption, and illegal enrichment, mainly revolving around LESCO-related investigations. The FIA under Sarfraz was criticized for failing to recover over PKR 5 billion from LESCO defaulters, and for effectively shutting down the Energy Anti-Theft Unit—either merging it into the Anti-Corruption Circle or allowing it to collapse.
Prime Minister’s Office Steps In:
The growing dissatisfaction at the federal level led to a critical intervention from the Prime Minister’s Office. Under the directive No. 13-09-2024, marked “CONFIDENTIAL MOST IMMEDIATE” and dated September 13, 2024, the Prime Minister directed the Interior Division to take disciplinary action against FIA officials identified in the intelligence reports.
The order, issued by Asad Rehman Gilani, Secretary to the Prime Minister, included two key directives:
- Interior Division to initiate action within seven days and submit a compliance report.
- Establishment Division to add the corruption reports to the officers’ dossiers and closely monitor their future performance.
Interior Minister’s Personal Involvement:
This development was followed by the involvement of Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, who granted approval for Sarfraz Work’s transfer and reportedly instructed DG FIA Riffat Mukhtar to “correct the Qibla” of the institution. He emphasized purging corruption, improving access to justice, and rebuilding public trust in the FIA.
Despite his transfer order, Sarfraz Work refused to vacate his office for over six months—a rare and audacious act of defiance within the civil service. The prolonged retention of charge further complicated the matter and raised questions regarding internal accountability and influence.
Mixed Reports on Performance:
Some sources within FIA claim that Sarfraz Work was wrongfully blamed for the LESCO failures and that his team had performed exceptionally in exposing the wheat scandal, where billions of rupees worth of misappropriated grain were recovered.
However, the dominant narrative from federal intelligence, media scrutiny, and internal reports points to systemic corruption and dereliction of duty under his leadership in Lahore.
A New Chapter for FIA Lahore:
With the arrival of Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Ali Zia as the new Lahore Director and a clean-slate approach under DG Riffat Mukhtar, this reshuffle marks a fresh chapter for the agency. Insiders describe these transfers as a decisive move to restore integrity, ensure disciplinary control, and restructure the power dynamics within FIA, especially in politically sensitive regions like Lahore.
The transfer notification was officially issued under the signature of Deputy Director (HRM), Jair Nasrani.
The transfer of Sarfraz Khan Work may be one of the most symbolically significant administrative decisions taken by the new FIA leadership. It reflects the federal government’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and underlines the commitment of DG Riffat Mukhtar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to enforce transparency and accountability within one of Pakistan’s most critical law enforcement institutions.
As this transition unfolds, the public and media alike will closely monitor whether this change translates into genuine reform or remains another bureaucratic reshuffle.
