PTI moves IHC against FIA's probe into prohibited funding case

PTI moves IHC against FIA's probe into prohibited funding case

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) inquiry regarding the prohibited funding case.

In its petition, the PTI maintained the stance that the FIA's inquiry into the funds was illegal and its leaders were being harassed due to political reasons.

The party requested the court to restrain the agency from investigating the case whereas the home secretary, DG FIA and the investigating officer were made parties in the petition.

The petition said that the PTI raised funds to run an anti-government movement after the 'regime change'. It added that all funds sent from abroad were received as per the law.

"The FIA inquiry and raids are illegal and should be stopped immediately," the petition said, adding that the FIA raided PTI Senator Saifullah Nyazee's house and harassed him.

On Friday, PTI's Senator Saifullah Khan Nyazee was reportedly taken into custody from outside the premises of the upper house of Parliament.

As mainstream and social media claimed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was behind the arrest, the agency issued a statement rejecting such reports.

Addressing a press conference, Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah said that Senator Saifullah Nyazee had not been appearing for investigation in foreign funding case and now he had been taken into protective custody so that he could be formally questioned.

He said legal procedure would be followed for the arrest of PTI Senator if required at a later stage.

Meanwhile, Founding member of PTI Hamid Zaman was also arrested by the FIA on Friday in the foreign funding case.

As per the reports, Zaman was taken into custody from his office on Waris Road in Lahore.
The interior minister said that Hamid Zaman had also been taken into protective custody in the case.

Reports are also circulating that the FIA team had raided PTI leader Aamir Kayani's house to arrest him. However, the agency did not issue a statement about this raid.

Moreover, another founding PTI member Tariq Shafis house was also raided in Karachi.

It is pertinent to mention that the FIA had launched its probe into the PTI prohibited funding in August this year after the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) findings regarding the case were announced.