The federal government has appointed Sanaullah Abbasi as the new Director General Federal Investigation Agency (DG FIA), according to a notification issued by the Establishment Division following approval of the decision by the federal cabinet.

Sanullah, a grade 22 officer, has replaced Wajid Zia who has now been appointed head of the National Police Bureau (NPB).

According to the details, the newly appointed FIA DG had been serving as the Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police since January 2, 2020. He is replaced by Frontier Constabulary (FC) Commandant Dr Moazzam Jahan Ansari, a Grade-21 officer as the new IG K-P.

The major shuffle reportedly came after Zia developed differences with some senior officials of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to a report in the Nation which cited sources. Zia was set to retire in March 2022 .

Zia had taken charge of FIA in November 2019 after the federal government decided to replace the then DG Bashir Memon.