Part1:
Title: Account Blockage by FIA in Pakistan – What’s Really Happening and How to Solve It
In recent times, many people in Pakistan who earn money online or receive payments from abroad – whether through freelancing, online businesses, or even crypto – are facing a big issue: their bank accounts are getting blocked. This is mostly happening due to FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) stepping in. But the real question is – is this legal, and what can you actually do about it?
What’s Going On?
Here’s the situation. If you’re earning money from platforms like Binance, or doing freelancing and getting paid internationally, there's a chance your account might get blocked. The FIA often sends an email to the bank, claiming a suspicious or “unauthorized” transaction. The bank, without verifying or giving you a chance to explain, blocks your entire account. After that, FIA sends you a letter asking you to visit their office. Now, most people, scared and unaware of the actual law, end up paying money just to get their account back.
What Does the Law Say?
Here’s the reality: FIA is only allowed to block the amount related to that specific transaction – not your entire account. Yes, that’s according to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Your account can’t be frozen entirely just because of one transaction.
Unfortunately, because many people don’t know their rights, they get taken advantage of. The law clearly says that unless proven otherwise, the bank has no right to freeze the whole account. They can only hold the suspicious transaction, not everything in your account.
Is Crypto Illegal in Pakistan?
There’s a Crypto Council in Pakistan currently working on legalizing crypto. Things are slowly moving in the right direction, and soon we might hear good news regarding legal crypto transactions. Until then, these types of issues might continue happening.
Check next post for part 2