FIA requests PEMRA to ban ex-DG's TV interviews

Says cases against Bashir Memon under investigation with both FIA and SC

ISLAMABAD:

The Federal Investigation Agency​​ (FIA) approached the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Monday to have its former director-general Bashir Memon banned from giving TV interviews.

FIA Lahore Director Dr Rizwan wrote a letter to PEMRA officials, stating that Memon had been supporting Omar Farooq Zahoor, an accused in international money laundering cases, adding that these cases were under investigation at the agency whereas the matter was also pending before the Supreme Court.

Zahoor is wanted by various countries including Switzerland, Norway and Turkey. He is accused of setting up bank accounts in Switzerland, Norway and robbing people off from different countries. Switzerland and Norway also reportedly revealed his links with two Foreign Office officials and Memon.

Read LHC restrains FIA from taking ‘coercive steps’ against ex-DG

According to FIA officials, in 2019, the former DG had removed Farooq's name from the list of most wanted criminals of Interpol. Subsequently, Farooq wrote Memon a letter of thanks.

On January 14, the Lahore High Court (LHC) restrained the FIA from taking any coercive measures against Memon.

Memon had filed a petition in the high court seeking direction to the FIA for providing a record of all pending inquiries, FIRs against him. Memon maintained in his petition that he had been implicated in false cases which had nothing to do with him.

He further accused the FIA of levelling false allegations of helping out Farooq, again whom the Interpol had issued a red-warrant.