FIA submits report to SC on ‘threatening video’

Co-accused Ali denies Mirza directed him to delete the video

ISLAMABAD:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday submitted an interim compliance report in the Supreme Court in the suo motu contempt proceedings against Agha Iftikharuddin Mirza on account of derogatory language used by him against the judiciary and Justice Qazi Faez Isa in a video clip circulating on social media.

FIA Additional Director Law Qasir Mahmud, in the report submitted on behalf of the FIA director general, stated that the complaint of Sarina Isa, wife of Justice Isa, was transferred to the FIA for want of jurisdiction and initially the Cyber Crime Reporting Centre (CCRC), Islamabad registered an inquiry No 125/2020 on June 25, 2020.

As the contents of the video speech attracted the provisions of the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, besides prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016 and PPC, therefore, the inquiry was transferred to the Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) of FIA.

The report stated that the case FIR No 03 of 2020 dated June 29, 2020 was subsequently registered under Section 7 of ATA 1997 read with sections 34/500/505/506 PPC-1860 and Section 20 of PECA 2016 and the investigation was entrusted to a Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
The four-member JIT is headed by the CTW Islamabad director and comprises CTW Assistant Director Khurram Saeed Rana, CTW Assistant Director Muhammad Azmat Khan, CCRC Assistant Director Adnan Khan and CTW Inspector Raja Wajid Hussain.

It said that accused Mirza and co-accused Akbar Ali were arrested on June 30 and after physical remand, they were sent to judicial lockup on July 7 and July 10, respectively.

The report further stated that during the physical remand of accused Mirza, having medical history of cardiac problem, frequently complained about his health and showed inability to respond to the interrogation.

It said that the accused owned the contents of the video speech delivered and recorded on June 14, and also admitted that co-accused Akbar Ali was administering his YouTube channel and Facebook page and used to post his videos on them.

He, however, contended that the video in question was not uploaded with his consent and that when he came to know about uploading of the video, he immediately got it deleted by directing co-accused Akbar Ali.

The accused, however, failed to give a satisfactory reply to the question as to what could be the purpose of a formal video recording through movie camera, other than uploading it on social media, the report said.              

It stated that co-accused Ali had stated that he uploaded the video in routine as it was his duty to record video speeches of Mirza, edit and upload the same on YouTube channel and Facebook pages of Mirza.

Ali denied that Mirza had directed him to delete the video, the report added.

The report stated that the accused persons had uploaded 698 videos on social media and all videos were under scrutiny.

It stated that the subscriber's detail of mobile numbers associated with social media accounts (YouTube channel and Facebook page) on which the alleged video was uploaded, had been obtained along with CDRs.

The analysis of CDR showed communication of accused Mirza on NTC, PTCL and mobile phone numbers, besides international calls to Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Malaysia, China, Zambia and England and call record was being analysed to identify his links, the report stated.

The report further stated that the revenue authorities of Rawalpindi and Chiniot had been requested to provide record of immoveable properties of the accused and the reply was awaited.

The Rawalpindi deputy commissioner had also been requested to provide information and record of Iqra Welfare Organisation, a trust run by accused Mirza, the report added.

The report stated that the record of Iqra Public School and College had been obtained from the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Islamabad.

It added that the FBR chairman had been requested to provide tax returns and wealth statements of the accused and the reply was awaited. The report stated that after obtaining permission from the competent court under Section 21EE(d) of ATA 1997, all banks had been requested to provide accounts' details of accused Mirza and Iqra Welfare Organisation operated by the said accused and the reply was awaited.

With additional input from APP