Zardari’s ‘criminal’ friend made FIA’s Economic Crime Wing chief

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s criminal friend, who was convicted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for financial crimes for 14 years, has been appointed as the head of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Economic Crime Wing.

In a 2001 verdict, former FIA deputy director Ahmad Riaz Sheikh was given 14 years rigorous imprisonment with a 20 million rupee fine imposed and property confiscated.

According to the charge sheet, the Sheikh’s family travelled to Europe on chartered planes, his children were enrolled in Aitchison College and every child had different tutors for different subjects. Gold and diamonds were recovered from him in kilograms, apart from a long list of property details.

The News quoted an FIA official, as saying that the appointment of a person already convicted in white-collar crime raises the question of how the government is dealing with skyrocketing corruption in a debt-ridden country.

Sheikh’s celebration of the silver jubilee of his wedding in 1995 had then made many headlines as he invited around 5,000 guests, including many politicians and army generals.

Sheikh’s wife Shabina is the PPP’s MPA in Punjab.

Sheikh had worked under Rehman Malik in the FIA and spent jail time with President Asif Ali Zardari.

Their friendship developed during their appearances at Attock Fort courts, as Sheikh’s case used to be heard in the court no 1 and Zardari’s in the court no 2.

When Sheikh was convicted and sent behind bars, they stayed together in the Adiala Jail. (ANI)