FIA grills PTI chief for two hours on cipher issue

ECP schedules the indictment in the contempt case for August 2

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman on Tuesday appeared before a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)-led probe team on the cipher issue and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in a contempt case against him.

The PTI chairman and former prime minister recorded his statement on the cipher issue and answered questions for two hours to the eight-member investigation team, sources said.

The PTI chairman, according to the sources, declared the cipher a reality and reiterated his earlier stance that all the answers were available in the minutes of the National Security Committee (NSC) meetings.

The sources further said that the PTI chairman was also asked questions about the statement of his former principal secretary Azam Khan. The team had already recorded statements of Asad Umar and Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Read ATC initiates proclamation proceedings against 22 PTI leaders

Also on Tuesday, a four-member ECP, led by its Member Nisar Durrani announced it will indict the PTI chairman in August 2 after his appearance before the bench. The bench summoned the PTI chief in person on the next hearing.

The bench heard the case case about contempt of the ECP and chief election commissioner (CEC) against the PTI Chairman, Fawad Chaudhary and Asad Umar. During the hearing, Chaudhry tendered apology.

Durrani asked Chaudhry to submit a written apology. Also during the hearing, the bench was requested to exempt Asad Umar from his personal attendance. The case will now be heard on August 2.

The PTI chairman also faces criminal proceedings in the Toshakhana gift case in a local court in the federal capital. During a hearing on Tuesday, the ECP concluded its case after completion of the cross-examination of its witness. The court summoned the PTI chairman on Wednesday (today) to record his statement.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamir Farooq heard four different petitions filed by the PTI chairman. The court issued notices to the police and the FIA on a plea for seeking details of the cases against him.

The court also took up the plea for transferring the Toshakhana case on the basis of some Facebook posts of the presiding judge. The chief justice remarked that what was happening on social media was unfortunate.