LAHORE – A former bank manager of MCB wanted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in an alleged Rs10 million investment fraud was arrested at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport shortly after returning to Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates, officials said on Tuesday.
The suspect, Imran Sajid, was taken into custody by the FIA’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Wing, Faisalabad, after his arrival from the UAE. Officials said Sajid had already been declared a proclaimed offender and his name had been placed on the Passport Control List (PCL), effectively turning his return to Pakistan into an airport arrest.
ایف آئی اے فیصل آباد کی بڑی کارروائی، اشتہاری ملزم اور ایم سی بی بینک کے سابق برانچ مینیجر عمران ساجد گرفتار
فیصل آباد: ایف آئی اے فیصل آباد زون کے اینٹی کرپشن و اکنامک کرائمز ونگ فیصل آباد نے کارروائی کرتے ہوئے مطلوب اشتہاری ملزم عمران ساجد کو گرفتار کر لیا۔ https://t.co/SPAYqWSFYe
— FIA Faisalabad Zone (@fiafaisalabad) October 6, 2026
The operation was conducted by an FIA team headed by Sub-Inspector Ajmal Hussain.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Rehmat Ali, a resident of Okara. According to the FIA, Sajid and an alleged accomplice convinced Ali to hand over Rs10 million, promising him lucrative returns on the investment. Investigators allege that instead of placing the money in the bank as represented, the suspects diverted or misappropriated the funds.
The dispute escalated when Ali sought the return of his money. Officials said the suspects subsequently returned Rs2.5 million in cash and issued a cheque for another Rs2.5 million. That cheque was allegedly dishonoured, leaving Rs5 million still outstanding.
One report described the later payment differently, saying only Rs2.5 million was returned through a cheque that could not be encashed. The broader account across reports, however, remains that only a portion of the alleged Rs10 million was recovered and a substantial amount remains disputed.
Sajid’s detention came after authorities had already placed him on the PCL and declared him a proclaimed offender. As a result, FIA personnel at Lahore airport were able to intercept him immediately after his return from the UAE. The arrest now brings the former manager directly into the agency’s investigation into the alleged financial wrongdoing.
The case was registered following an inquiry into Ali’s complaint. Investigators invoked provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Pakistan Penal Code, including offences relating to corruption, criminal breach of trust and cheating.
FIA’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Wing has launched further investigation to determine how the money was allegedly handled and what role the other accused may have played. Officials are also expected to examine the financial trail surrounding the disputed Rs10 million and establish whether anyone else was involved.
The identity of the alleged accomplice has not been publicly disclosed in the available reports.
Despite the large amount involved, the allegations described by the FIA do not point to a conventional cyberattack or bank-account hacking operation. Instead, the case centres on an alleged investment fraud involving a former bank official, with investigators claiming that money handed over on the promise of financial returns was not used for the stated purpose.
MCB Fraud Disputes
The latest arrest also comes against the backdrop of other disputes involving MCB and alleged employee misconduct, although there is no evidence in the available reporting that these cases are connected to Sajid.
MCB Customers Still Waiting for Compensation after Winning Banking Fraud Case
In one recent matter involving former branch manager Saeed Arif, a customer alleged that cheques were used for fraudulent term-deposit applications and unauthorized transfers, with funds allegedly ending up in an account linked to the manager’s nephew, Muneeb Nasir. The Banking Mohtasib reportedly ordered MCB to pay around Rs3.05 million plus service charges to the complainant, while reports also mentioned an FIR and disciplinary action against some employees.
Another dispute involved MCB’s Gojra Road branch in Jhang, where customers complained about 292 deposit slips worth around Rs3.94 million that were allegedly not properly credited. The Banking Mohtasib ordered repayment of approximately Rs3.093 million, a decision subsequently upheld by former President Arif Alvi, who also directed investigation into officials allegedly responsible.
MCB customers have also appeared in cases involving SIM-swap attacks, unauthorized digital transactions and other forms of banking fraud. These incidents, however, concern different individuals and circumstances and should not be presented as evidence of a single or coordinated fraud operation.
Employee misconduct and customer fraud are not unique to MCB. Pakistan’s banking sector has repeatedly dealt with allegations involving unauthorized withdrawals, forged instruments, insider assistance, SIM-swap attacks and misuse of customer information.
