Supreme Court clears FIA boat tragedy probe for 40 officers
A three-judge bench upheld the Federal Service Tribunal’s reinstatement of dismissed officers while referring the matter back for a lawful fresh inquiry if the agency chooses.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the FIA to start a fresh departmental inquiry, if it deems fit, into officers linked to the 2023 Greece boat tragedy.
The court rejected the FIA’s appeal and upheld the Federal Service Tribunal’s April 14 order reinstating 40 dismissed officers.
FIA counsel said the officers had been sacked for alleged facilitation of human smuggling; the tribunal had overturned those dismissals on procedural grounds.
About 286 people left for Libya and 155 were killed when the boat capsized off Greece; counsel said the dead included 155 Pakistanis.
The bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, said any fresh inquiry must follow due process, including a hearing for the officials.