FIA to probe agency raid on jewellery shop in Karachi’s Sarafa Bazaar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Dr Usman Anwar took notice of an incident during a raid in Karachi’s Sarafa Bazar and sought a detailed report within 48 hours. On May 15, 2026, the agency carried out a raid on a jewellery shop in the market, targeting alleged silver smuggling. The FIA had initially taken the position that official records showed 178 kilogrammes of silver should have been at the shop, but only 15kg of locally branded silver was recovered. The agency alleged the missing 163kg may have been removed during a disturbance created by traders and shopkeepers at the market. It further claimed that some people tried to worsen the situation by forming crowds and obstructing official action, but personnel handled it with restraint. Moreover, the FIA said it had obtained digital evidence from suspects’ phones linked to smuggling networks. The FIA chief directed the Karachi Zone director to conduct a full inquiry into the matter, instructing that all aspects of the incident, including legal procedures, relevant evidence and material circulating on social media, be examined impartially. According to an FIA spokesperson, the agency is a professional institution that believes in transparent and impartial action in accordance with the law. “Strict action will be taken against elements involved in the incident and any illegal activities in accordance with the law,” the spokesperson said. They added that investigations were launched against the suspects and facilitators on allegations of smuggling, obstructing government officials, and inciting crowds against state action. The agency stressed that the operation was against smugglers and economic criminals, not the wider business community, and that strict action would continue against those interfering in legal operations. In a related development, the Karachi Zone director met representatives of the All Pakistan Sarafa Jewellers and Gems Association on Saturday to discuss the raid. Durin