FIA clears Senator Abidi of SMS campaign allegations
Agency still probing PPP senator’s controversial press conference.
LAHORE:
After a malicious SMS campaign spreading messages against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was discovered, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probed Senator Faisal Raza Abidi’s possible link to the matter – but gave him a clean chit on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator came under the spotlight earlier in August, when he held a provocative press conference, making allegations against the chief justice.
However, while Abidi has been cleared as far as the SMS campaign is concerned, according to sources investigations are ongoing with regard to his press conference and appearance in media generally, where he allegedly carried out a ‘malicious campaign against the judiciary’.
Abidi appeared before the FIA’s investigation team headed by Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Director Khadim Bhatti. A member of the FIA investigation team told The Express Tribune that during the course of inquiry, no evidence surfaced which proved any direct or indirect link between Abidi and the text messages, several of which were sent to the CJP as well.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Bhatti said the team have examined the TV talk shows and various media reports on the matter. He said that others concerned will also be summoned for interrogation.
Bhatti added that the FIA will determine whether Abidi’s comments were made in a deliberate attempt to malign the CJP and the Supreme Court.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2012.
After a malicious SMS campaign spreading messages against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was discovered, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probed Senator Faisal Raza Abidi’s possible link to the matter – but gave him a clean chit on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator came under the spotlight earlier in August, when he held a provocative press conference, making allegations against the chief justice.
However, while Abidi has been cleared as far as the SMS campaign is concerned, according to sources investigations are ongoing with regard to his press conference and appearance in media generally, where he allegedly carried out a ‘malicious campaign against the judiciary’.
Abidi appeared before the FIA’s investigation team headed by Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Director Khadim Bhatti. A member of the FIA investigation team told The Express Tribune that during the course of inquiry, no evidence surfaced which proved any direct or indirect link between Abidi and the text messages, several of which were sent to the CJP as well.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Bhatti said the team have examined the TV talk shows and various media reports on the matter. He said that others concerned will also be summoned for interrogation.
Bhatti added that the FIA will determine whether Abidi’s comments were made in a deliberate attempt to malign the CJP and the Supreme Court.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2012.