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FIA will continue its inquiry against Asad Qaiser

PHC rejects PTI leader’s plea to suspend agency’s inquiry action
National Assembly Asad Qaiser presides over a meeting on December 7, 2021. Photo via Twitter/@NAofPakistan/File
National Assembly Asad Qaiser presides over a meeting on December 7, 2021. Photo via Twitter/@NAofPakistan/File

PESHAWAR: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will continue its inquiry against former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser into the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s two bank accounts managed by him.

The Peshawar High Court rejected on Tuesday rejected a petition filed by Qaiser petition, who was seeking suspension of the FIA’s inquiry into the bank accounts.

In a short order, the two-member comprising Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim ordered the investigation agency to continue its probe.

Earlier, the court had reserved its decision after hearing the arguments from both sides.

Read: PTI took prohibited funding, hid 13 accounts, rules ECP

Qaisar’s counsel urged the court to set aside a notice by an FIA inquiry officer to appear in before him in connection with the probe into two bank accounts managed by him from 2008 to 2013 as the PTI’s provincial head.

The FIA’s provincial chapters on August 6 summoned senior party leaders – including Qaiser, Shah Farman, Imran Ismail and Seema Zia – to join the inquiry after the Election Commission of Pakistan in a unanimous verdict ruled that the PTI did receive prohibited funding and hid 13 bank accounts.

Qaiser had requested the court to suspend action on the inquiry and stop the respondents, including the relevant FIA officials, from issuing “adverse” orders against him until the disposal of the case.

Read: In tit-for-tat move, PTI says joint probe team will summon Sanaullah, Hamza, Malik, Tarar

At the outset of Tuesday’s hearing, Qaiser’s lawyer Gohar Ali said that the case fell under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of Pakistan, not under the FIA.

He added that according to the FIA the inquiry was started after the ECP order, however, the agency has replied in negative to the court.

Deputy Attorney General Amir Javed said that Qaiser was not being arrested and was to only be questioned for the investigation, adding that the federal cabinet has given approval to the inquiry.

It was the responsibility of the institutions to support the ECP, he said, adding that the FIA was investigating those accounts with which no relationship had been expressed.

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