The Establishment Division has dismissed a BS-18 police officer, Muhammad Bilal Qayyum, after a disciplinary inquiry connected him to an alleged fake currency racket uncovered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The scandal emerged when FIA personnel arrested a Lahore-based suspect, Aamir Iqbal, for possessing alleged counterfeit currency worth several hundred thousand rupees. The arrest triggered a deeper investigation into the origins of the fake notes circulating in the provincial capital.

During interrogation, Iqbal reportedly disclosed that the counterfeit currency had been obtained from Qayyum, a serving police officer. This revelation prompted the Establishment Division to initiate formal disciplinary proceedings under the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020. A show-cause notice was issued in May 2024, and after months of scrutiny, the inquiry authorities concluded that Qayyum’s conduct warranted a major penalty.

According to an official notification dated 18 October 2025, the Secretary of the Establishment Division, acting under the relevant civil service rules, approved the penalty of “Removal from Service.” The notification stated that sufficient grounds existed to take the strongest administrative action against the officer, marking a rare instance of a senior police official being dismissed amid a counterfeit currency investigation.

Despite his removal, Qayyum retains the right to challenge the decision. Under the Civil Servants (Appeal) Rules, 1977, he has 30 days from the issuance of the notification to file an appeal before the competent authority. Meanwhile, the FIA is continuing its investigation into the broader counterfeit currency network, with officials suggesting more arrests could follow as the probe expands.