SHC summons FIA officials in harassment plea

Ex-PIA MD accuses FIA of harassing him in connection with probe of aircraft's procurement

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court summoned on Saturday the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Corporate Crime Circle additional director and assistant director, as it issued an interim order in a plea alleging FIA officials of harassing former Pakistan International Airlines managing director Nadeem Khan Yousafzai.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice KK Agha, was hearing a plea filed by Yousafzai, who contended that FIA officials had been "harassing" him in connection with the investigation of a case pertaining to financial irregularities in the procure of A-310 aircraft.

According to the plea, the FIA launched an investigation into the procurement of A-310 aircraft between 2011 and 2012 and accused Yousafzai of being involved in the grounding of the aircraft.

"However, I was not involved in the procurement or grounding of the aircraft in any way," Yousafzai stated in the plea, adding that even then, the FIA issued notices to him, summoning him multiple times.

Moving the court to stop the FIA from "harassing" him, Yousafzai maintained that he had nothing to do with the scandal.

Issuing an interim order in the plea, the court summoned the FIA Corporate Crime Circle additional director and assistant director.

It directed that the copies of the order be sent to the FIA director general, wherein he was instructed to ensure the attendance of the Corporate Crime Circle additional and assistant directors at the next hearing.

The court also sought details about the progress of the investigation into the procurement of A-310 craft.