FIA summons Fawad over Maryam tweet

The Federal Investigation Agency on Monday initiated an inquiry against PTI leader Fawad Chauhdry over his allegations against PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz for allegedly taking benefits from Toshakhana against the law.

The PTI leader has been directed to appear before the agency to present his defence on March 17, according to a summon notice.

The probe was launched after a complaint was filed by citizen Raja Muhammad Haroon, a resident of Islamabad, following the release of the Toshakhana 466-page record by the federal government on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

In his March 12 tweet, the complainant argued that Fawad had accused Maryam of receiving a watch from the state gifts depository which violated the privacy law and attempted to provoke the public against the PML-N leader.

Therefore, legal action should be initiated against him, the complaint stated.

The summons notice has been issued under Section 160 of the CPRC, stipulating that in case of non-appearance, it will be deemed that the PTI leader has nothing to present or state in his defence.

Action will be taken against Fawad under Section 174 of PPC (not obeying a legal order to attend at a certain place in person or by agent, or departing there from without authority).

Moreover, the PTI leader has also been made bound to bring his identity card with him.

Reacting to the development, Fawad took to Twitter and said the FIA had initiated an inquiry within hours of threats from Maryam Nawaz.

“Civil rights have been completely suspended in this country,” Fawad bemoaned, raising alarms that the Supreme Court's silence on these matters could spell disasters. “Chief Justice of Pakistan’s silence on these issues would amount to an approval to abrogation of the constitution,” he added.