SHC grants protective bail to former FIA head
A file photo of the Sindh High Court building.
The first petition of the year 2022 was filed in the Sindh High Court. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)'s former director general Bashir Memon has approached the court for protective bail under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The SHC, while granting the protective bail to the applicant for 15 days, directed him to surrender before the court concerned. The SHC ordered Memon to submit a surety bond of Rs50,000 and also stopped the FIA from arresting its former head.
The court directed Memon to surrender in the relevant court within 15 days. In the petition, the former head of FIA argued that Interpol has its own procedure for removal of the name of an accused from the red notice.
"The allegation that Omar Farooq Zahoor's name was removed from the red notice is the result of ignorance of the law," the applicant contended and pleaded for grant of four weeks protective bail to approach the relevant court of Lahore. "The FIA is asking me for documents which are not in my custody," the applicant argued.
The FIA's DG and Lahore director have been made parties in the petition. The FIA has summoned the former DG to Lahore for questioning. The petition argued that according to FIA Lahore, I am facing various charges including money laundering.
"I have been asked what is the nature of the relationship with notorious suspect Omar Farooq Zahoor. How long have I had a relationship with Omar Farooq Zahoor and how many private meetings have I had with him?"
The petitioner argued that he was also accused of facilitating the removal of the name of Omar Farooq Zahoor from the red notice. Accused Omar Farooq Zahoor is wanted by various countries including Switzerland, Norway and Turkey.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2022.