PTI prohibited funding case: LHC stops FIA from harassing Imran Khan
The LHC has sought an explanation from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) while suspending the summoning notice to PTI chief Imran Khan.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought an explanation from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) while suspending the summoning notice to former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday dismissed the summon notice issued by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the prohibited funding case.
Justice Asjad Javed Ghural issued the order while hearing a petition filed by the PTI chairman challenging the FIA’s summon notice.
The court has sought a reply from the Attorney General of Pakistan on the matter and also asked the defendants to respond.
Khan’s lawyer argued before the court and said that FIA does not have the authority to inquire into the matter. While the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also did not direct the agency to investigate the matter while deciding the prohibited funding case.
The court questioned whether the FIA has the authority to conduct such an inquiry. Can the federal government ask the agency to investigate the matter? The lawyer replied that the FIA had no authority to inquire into such matters, adding that the FIA had initiated the inquiry itself. The notice did not mention whether the government had ordered the inquiry or not.
The court questioned whether the said accounts are with PTI. On which the lawyer took a stand that the party does not recognize 13 accounts.
Speaking to the media after the court proceedings, Imran Khan’s lawyer said that the action being taken against PTI is completely illegal. FIA has no authority to conduct inquiry against PTI or any other party.
The lawyer further said that the FIA has no authority to investigate the accounts of any political party or find out the source of funding from them. This authority belongs only to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). When it is determined that the funding falls under the category of prohibited funding, the Election Commission can take action, he concluded.
🙏ایف آئی اے کا خواب چکناچور🙏
لاہور ہائیکورٹ نے FIA کیطرف سے سابق وزیراعظم عمران خان کو ممنوعہ فنڈنگ کیس میں جاری کردہ نوٹس معطل کرتے ہوۓ وفاقی حکومت سے جواب طلب کرلیا، FIA سمیت دیگر فریقین کو 7 دسمبر کیلئے نوٹس جاری. pic.twitter.com/JyIQB58XhT
— Rana Yasif (@ranayasif) November 8, 2022
