FAZAL SHER

ISLAMABAD: Former director general (DG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Ahmed Memon, who was set to retire on December 16, has resigned from his service.

Memon, a BPS-22 officer of Police Services of Pakistan (PSP), has forwarded his resignation to the Establishment Division for further process. Memon was appointed as DG FIA in August 2017. In his resignation, he said that it is usual courtesy in official working that any officer nearing retirement is not posted out. “I have been denied this courtesy which in my opinion is an expression of displeasure towards me,” he said in his resignation.

The government has appointed Wajid Zia, former additional director FIA and head of joint investigation team (JIT) that probed Panama Papers case, as DG FIA.

It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government had sent Memon on a 15-day leave in September this year over his alleged poor performance in investigations of key cases including the accountability court judge video scandal.

Memon before availing his 15 days leave was already on an ex-Pakistan leave of seven days granted by secretary of Ministry of Interior to perform Umrah on September 5. His ex-Pakistan leave ended on September 23, only a day before the start of his second leave.