Pakistan’s Biggest Hawala Hundi & Money Laundering Network Busted – Gujranwala-Karachi Nexus Exposed, Over Rs. 21 Billion Transactions Traced, 50 Containers Seized

ISLAMABAD / GUJRANWALA / KARACHI :
Federal enforcement agencies have launched the biggest coordinated crackdown against Hawala-Hundi, Money Laundering, Tax Evasion and misuse of import facilities, with investigations expanding from *Gujranwala to Karachi* and exposing a network involving currency exchangers, prominent industrialists and importers.

Officials familiar with the investigations confirmed that *Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Pakistan Customs* are jointly examining financial trails, import documentation and banking records.

*THE GUJRANWALA CASE – Rs. 160 Crore Pending, Fresh FIRs Registered*

The central figure in the Gujranwala investigation is *Haji Amjad Saleem Butt*, associated with *Shaheen Trader and Nobel Currency Exchange*, who has been taken into custody.

Sources said a *tax / duty demand of approximately Rs. 160 Crore was already pending against him*, and FIA Composite Circle, Gujranwala has now registered two major FIRs:

*FIR No. 01/2026 dated 12-01-2026*
Registered under Sections 3, 4, 5, 8 & 23(1) FERA, 1947 read with Section 34 PPC at PS FIA Composite Circle, Gujranwala.
*Accused: Amjad Saleem Butt*
Allegation: Involved in Hundi / Hawala transactions involving sale and purchase of *AED, USD and Euro* with total volume of *PKR 13,456.35 Million (Rs. 13.45 Billion).*

*FIR No. 12/26 dated 21-09-2026*
Registered under Sections 3, 4, 5, 8 & 23(1) FERA, 1947, 109 PPC at FIA CC Gujranwala.
*Accused: Atta Fareed and Zia Fareed in connivance with Mian Shabbir (Nobel Currency Exchange), Amjad Saleem Butt (Shaheen Trader) and Khawaja Tanveer (Currency Exchange)*
Allegation: Trade-based Hawala transactions of AED, USD, Euro amounting to *PKR 7,540.895 Million (Rs. 7.54 Billion).*

*Accused-wise breakup of Rs. 7,540.895 Million:*

– *Atta Fareed – PKR 3,897.045 Million*
– *Mian Shabbir (Nobel Currency Exchange) – PKR 3,311.3198 Million*
– *Amjad Saleem Butt (Shaheen Trader) – PKR 102.5342 Million*
– *Khawaja Tanveer (Currency Exchange) – PKR 229.9955 Million*

Total volume of both FIRs is *over Rs. 21 Billion.*

*EXPLOSIVE DISCLOSURES – ACCUSED READY TO BECOME APPROVER*

During interrogation, *FIA has broken the network of arrested accused Haji Amjad Saleem Butt.*

According to investigative sources, the accused has made explosive disclosures:

– He has revealed *how black money of big business tycoons and investors was whitened through Hawala network and TTs (Telegraphic Transfers).*
– He has *named big capitalists* whose funds were routed.
– He is *ready to become Wada Maaf Gawah (Approver)* and has offered to disclose *names and secrets of all persons who got TTs made through him.*

Following his statement, *FIA has issued notices to all named persons to join investigation.*

*BANK ACCOUNTS FROZEN – 9 ACCUSED*

In a major action under Anti-Money Laundering laws, *FIA has frozen / seized all bank accounts of 9 accused:*

1. Mian Shabbir
2. Waseem Aslam
3. Amjad Saleem Butt
4. Zia Fareed Chaudhry
5. Atta Fareed Chaudhry – Prominent industrialist and former Coordinator to Provincial Minister
6. Haroon
7. Hamid Dogi Wala
8. Khawaja Tanveer Maroof Mamakannu
9. Asif Jutt

FIA sources said accounts were frozen after concrete evidence of illegal transactions was found. Further attachment of properties is expected.

*SCOPE WIDENED – EX-PRESIDENT CHAMBER INCLUDED*

The investigation has been further widened. *Former President Chamber Ali Humayun Butt has been included in the investigation* on allegations of *whitening black money* through the same network. He has been summoned to join the probe.

*KARACHI LINK – 50 CONTAINERS SEIZED AT PORT*

In a parallel action that establishes the Gujranwala-Karachi nexus, *FBR and Pakistan Customs have seized around 50 import containers at Karachi Port.*

FIR No. 12/26 is linked to this seizure. According to sources:

– Consignments were *declared as silver-bearing material imported from Europe, United States and United Kingdom.*
– On physical examination, investigators suspect the containers *actually contained copper cables, including categories whose import is subject to restrictions and high duties.*
– The potential *tax and duty evasion is estimated at up to Rs. 50 Billion*, though the final figure will be determined after laboratory testing, adjudication and legal process.

Customs authorities are conducting detailed scrutiny of import documents, declared descriptions, valuation and origin.

*WHAT NEXT:*

FIA investigators are examining ledgers recovered from Noble and Shaheen exchanges which contain names of several Gujranwala-based industrialists. Financial records, TT trails and import documents are being cross-matched.

Officials say this is one of the largest crackdowns against trade-based money laundering and Hawala Hundi in recent years and more arrests and disclosures are expected in the coming days.

*FIA stance: Corruption, Hawala Hundi and Money Laundering – Our war against them is ongoing.*