Fake accounts case: FIA hires renowned lawyer from Karachi

FIA to seek disqualification of Asif Ali Zardari under Article 62 1-F of the Constitution

ISLAMABAD: After consultation with the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has hired services of a renowned Karachi-based lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi, to contest on behalf of the department in the fake accounts scam.

Source said a notification regarding Siddiqi’s appointment has been issued by the Law Ministry after consulting the AGP Anwar Mansoor Khan. Sources in the FIA told The Express Tribune that the agency has hired the special counsel for two purposes.

Firstly, it wants to seek disqualification of Asif Ali Zardari under Article 62 1-F of the Constitution in view of his non-disclosure of assets in his nomination papers. Secondly, it wants to make sure institution of cases at proper forums against the persons whose names appeared in the JIT report.

The JIT has recommended institution of 16 inquiries/references against Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and others. The PPP leadership has also started deliberation on engaging a new counsel after inclusion of the name of Farooq H Naek in the JIT report.