PPP leaders demand removal of FIA DG and JIT head

KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders once again demanded on Friday the removal of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director-General Bashir Memon and Joint Investigation Team (JIT) Head Najaf Mirza. The two are leading the FIA inquiry against PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in Rs35 billion money laundering case.

Addressing a press conference at the PPP media cell, PPP MNA-elect Dr Nafisa Shah said, "Our leaders are being politically victimised and the FIA officers are targeting PPP leaders because of their personal vendetta against PPP leadership."

She shared that it was widely known that Najaf was related to PPP's arch rival, apparently referring to his relations with Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leader Zulfiqar Mirza. She added that Najaf was also involved in torturing the PPP co-chairperson in jail and Zardari had registered a case against him.

Dr Shah was of the view that PPP leaders were being victimised for defeating GDA and its coalition partners in Sindh. She added that Memon's brother also contested the recent elections as a GDA candidate. "We have no trust in these officers who are biased, so they should not be a part of JIT," Dr Shah remarked.



"This is not a dubious account. It is owned by the Zardari Group of Companies, which is a public limited company. Every year the company is audited," Dr Shah said referring to the account being investigated. Shah also questioned why a case that was four years old was reopened especially at the time of the elections. "This action is nothing, but aimed at targeting PPP leadership," she declared.

During the press conference, Saeed Ghani said that the PPP would fight against all fabricated cases and prove them wrong.

The PPP leaders also criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for its failure to hold free and fair elections. PPP Sindh President Nisar Khuhro demanded that the ECP reopen the constituencies where massive rigging took place in Sindh. Khuhro said, "The ECP should open the constituencies free of charge."

"Around Rs25 billion were allocated for free and fair elections in Sindh. Where has this huge amount of money been spent?" Khuhro asked. He added that ECP must verify the thumb verification and provide justice to candidates.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab was also present at the press conference.