Govt swings into action against PTI leaders and its allies

The Shehbaz Sharif government has started revengeful actions against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and its allies two days before the organisation of Punjab by-elections.

The coalition government expedited legal proceedings against 126 people including PTI chairman Imran Khan, vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, President Dr Arif Alvi Pervez Khattak, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed and Farah Khan alias Gogi.

The government has filed an appeal against the acquittal of 126 people including President Arif Alvi, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Pervez Khattak in the PTV attack case.

Farah Khan alias Gogi has been summoned by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), whereas, Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab has summoned former interior minister Sheikh Rashid in a land case.

According to details, the government has filed an appeal against the acquittal of Imran Khan and Pervez Khattak in the PTV attack case in which overall 126 people were made parties.

It was stated in the appeal that the order of the lower court was illegal and without any legal justification. the order of the lower court was not sustainable in the eyes of the law. The appeal stated that the trial court issued an illegal order which was given in a hurried manner.

The appeal stated that the trial court did not take into account the seriousness of the crime, serious injuries to law enforcement personnel, loss of life and extensive damage to government property.

The appeal also said that the accused were named in the FIR supplementary statements with their specific roles and criminal evidence, which is on record to link them to the crimes by the commission. There was enough documentary and evidence on record to link the accused to the crime commission but the trial court did not exercise its powers appropriately, it added.

Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) issued a legal notice to Farah Gogi, a close friend of the former first lady and directed her to appear before the investigators in person on July 20.

According to a spokesperson of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), an inquiry is underway against Farrukh Khan and other accused on charges of assets beyond income and money laundering. The accused was ordered to appear with relevant documents.

According to sources, the government has also started legal proceedings for Farah Khan’s repatriation. Farah Gogi had moved to Dubai after the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government came to power.

On the other hand, ACE Punjab has summoned Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and others on July 15 for illegally selling land to the Life Residencia Housing Society Islamabad.

Notices have been issued to Sheikh Rasheed, Haider Hassan, Muhammad Sarfraz Sial, general managers of The Life Residencia Housing Society Islamabad, Rawalpindi Development Authority officer and the concerned patwari to appear before the ACE officers on July 15.

Rasheed was directed to bring the complete record of land sold to the society.

Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab has also asked the housing society’s general manager and the officers of the Finance and RDA Department for the relevant records including all bank accounts, payments and receipts.