Qaiser snubs FIA call-up notice

Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser did not appear before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the prohibited funding case investigation on Thursday. Instead, he sent a written letter to the investigators to withdraw the call-up notice.

The FIA had summoned Qaiser in connection with its probe into the prohibited funding case. However, Qaiser approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) in view of his possible arrest. The PHC restrained FIA from taking any action against Qaiser until his petition was decided.

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Writing the letter on behalf of the former speaker, Barrister Gohar Khan said that the case was already pending with the PHC and the next hearing would be held on August 31. Therefore, the letter said, issuing the call-up notice on August 18 was illegal.

The letter reminded that the PHC had asked the FIA to answer six questions, including the FIA’s jurisdiction to investigate this matter. Therefore, until the writ petition was decided, any action against Qaiser would be a violation of his fundamental rights, the letter added.