Amin Fahim’s petition: SHC allows FIA last chance to file comments

Extends earlier interim order barring the agency from harassing the federal minister.

KARACHI:

A Sindh High Court (SHC) division bench on Thursday granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a week’s time to file comments in response to a petition by Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

At the same time, the bench, comprising Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Shafi Siddiqui extended an earlier interim order, which barred the agency from harassing or arresting the federal minister or his family members without due process of law, till the next hearing of the petition on September 9.

However, the bench made it clear in its order that if the agency failed to file its comments, the petition would be decided based on the material available on record in the next hearing. It also directed the FIA director to attend the next hearing in that case as well.

Earlier, standing counsel Asif Hussain Mangi appeared on behalf of the federal government alongside Additional Director Law Syed Israr Ali, and sought more time to file comments in response to Amin Fahim’s petition.

Fahim, in his petition, sought protection against harassment and possible arrest by the FIA in connection to the National Insurance Corporation (NICL) corruption case. He maintained that he and his family members had been falsely implicated in the case. The federal minister further claimed that FIA was continuing its investigations with the sole purpose of humiliating him and his family.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2012.