FIA summons Imran for separate probes

Agency serves notice to PTI’s Asad Umar for today for audio leaks inquiry

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned PTI chairman and former premier Imran Khan separately in Rawalpindi and Lahore for its probes into the audio leaks related to US cypher and a prohibited bank account.

The FIA Rawalpindi has issued the PTI chief a summon notice, directing him to appear before the agency's headquarters on November 3 in connection with its investigation into the audio recordings pertaining to the diplomatic cypher.

It has also called his party man, former federal minister Asad Umar, on Wednesday (today) in connection with the same case.

The FIA Rawalpindi has issued a second notice to PTI Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, directing him to appear before its interrogators on November 3.

Qureshi was supposed to appear before the agency on Tuesday, but he neither came to the FIA headquarters, nor informed his reasons for being unable to approach its team before the working hours of the office were over.

Now Qureshi and his party chief have both been directed to appear before the FIA's interrogators on November 3 in connection with the audio recordings probe.

On the instructions of the interior ministry, the FIA director general had formed a team led by the agency’s Islamabad Zone Director Rana Abdul Jabbar, to investigate the audio leaks controversy.

The other members of the inquiry body included the FIA’s Cyber Crime Islamabad additional director, Counter Terrorism Wing deputy director, assistant director investigation officer, and officer members selected by the committee head.

The investigation team also included Grade-19 officers from three intelligence agencies.

A federal cabinet’s subcommittee had given an official nod last month to initiate legal action against the PTI chairman.

Separately, the FIA Lahore has summoned Imran on November 7 to investigate the prohibited account case.

The notice issued to the PTI chief read that he had told the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that his party had nothing to do with the bank account in Lahore.

However, the authorisation letter of Imran was attached to the opening form of the account.

According to sources, the FIA Lahore has summoned the PTI chief for an explanation.

It must be mentioned here that the FIA had already interrogated several PTI leaders in connection with the prohibited account case.