FIA traces bank accounts in Asad Qaiser’s name

Millions stashed in two bank accounts associated with ex-NA speaker

PESHAWAR:

 

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has traced two bank accounts belonging to the former speaker of the National Assembly and PTI leader Asad Qaisar.

FIA officials said that the agency was probing the PTI's prohibited funding case and has found the former speaker's two bank accounts, adding that accounts were opened in 2008 and 2009.

“What we have come to know is that there were Rs2 million in one bank account and Rs0.8 million in the other,” a senior FIA official said, adding that both the accounts were opened in private banks.

The Peshawar office of the FIA has summoned Qaiser on Thursday (today).

The FIA sent a notice to the former speaker, stating that as per the verdict on Akbar S Babar’s case, Qaiser has two bank accounts and he is associated with the functioning of those two accounts; therefore he has been asked to appear before the inquiry team to answer questions regarding the details of the bank accounts.

Asad challenges FIA's notice

Meanwhile, Asad Qaiser has challenged the notice in the PTI funding case in the Peshawar High Court.

Asad Qaiser filed a writ petition in court through his lawyer, Barrister Gohar Ali, to avoid appearing before the federal agency and possible arrest in the high-profile case.

Speaking to the media outside the court, Qaiser said he has not approached the court to seek pre-arrest bail, stressing it was beyond the jurisdiction of the FIA to probe into the matter.

“We opened these accounts for our convenience. It is not illegal. It was opened for paying employees' salaries and office expenses “ he said. He added that all deposits and withdrawals have been checked and during the six years, only one million rupees has been transacted from the account.