Farah Gogi seeks action against FIA for ‘transgressing authority’

Applications filed to sessions judge, FIA chief against non-bailable warrants issued in money-laundering case

LAHORE:

Farhat Shehzadi has submitted two separate applications seeking action against officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for allegedly abusing the process of law, misleading the court, and violating jurisdiction in a money-laundering case.

Farhat Shehzadi alias Farah Gogi, a close friend of former first lady Bushra Bibi, filed the applications with a district and sessions court and the FIA director-general on Tuesday through her counsel Advocate Azhar Siddique.

The applications sought directions to the FIA to withdraw its application through which a judicial magistrate issued her arrest warrants on the request of the federal agency.

“Arrest warrants were obtained with a clear intimation that a damages suit will be filed against arbitrary, wrongful and unlawful act caused a large scale of humiliation and disrespect for petitioner,” read the petition.

The applications also sought directions to quarters concerned to quash the First Information Report (FIR) 04/2023 registered on February 28, 2023 with the Anti-Money Laundering Circle police station in Lahore.

The applications stated that petitioner’s counsel advocate Azhar Siddique along with others held a meeting with FIA director on March 2, 2023. Advocate Siddique suggested the FIA official to form a joint working team comprising members from both sides to discuss the issues at hand.

Also read: Farah Gogi challenges FIA's jurisdiction

“However, FIA, through Investigation Officer (IO) prima facie, pursuant to mala fide and some invisible agenda has hurriedly filed an application under section 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 Cr.P.C that relates to a process of court which requires submission of a report/complaint before issuance of any non-bailable warrants of an accused, thus, no non-bailable warrants of an accused can be obtained without fulfilling all the requisite formalities as stipulated by the law,” the applications stated.

The FIA officials without first ascertaining the question of jurisdiction, hurriedly, illegally and highly toxic agenda have embarked upon adventure of issuing non-bailable warrants of my client in sheer violation Constitution, the counsel added.

“This is an open secret that for the last one-year various personalities including the ruling government’s leaders Rana Sanaullah, Atta Tarar and others holding prominent offices have been found violating the provisions of law and Constitution.”