Was DG FIA forced to go on leave for refusing to fulfil desire for political revenge against PMLN?

By Our Correspondent

Islamabad, Oct 9: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General became a casualty of PTI government’s ire for failing to fulfil the desire of the ruling party to use government machinery against political opponents and to favour its own.

The incumbent Director General FIA, Bashir Memon, reportedly went on leave due to back pain following some official meetings in which sources claim he was asked to frame top PMLN leadership in the judge blackmailing scandal and to institute a false and concocted treason case against former Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif.

In a Vlog titled “Imran Khan govt seeks Interpol help against former Defence Minister Khawaja Asif” Link: https://youtu.be/FvUQMA_QwGI, investigative journalist Rauf Klasra revealed that Prime Minister Imran Khan used FIA and foreign affairs division to target senior opposition leader of PMLN.

Former Defence and Foreign Affairs Minister Khawja Asif became a target of PTI leadership after a number of his witty remarks inside and outside the parliament caused embarrassment to PTI chairman and now incumbent PM Imran Khan. His remarks addressed directly to the then opposition leader Imran Khan, “Kuch Sharam Hoti Hai, Kuch Haya Hoti Hai….” resonated across the media and continue to haunt the PTI leadership as political sarcasm.

Rauf Klasra said PM Imran Khan called meetings of FIA officials and expressed his displeasure for not instituting a case under Article 6 of the Constitution against Khawaja Asif – a charge which carries death penalty on conviction.

FIA officials carried out an investigation and couldn’t find any incriminating evidence of treason against former Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Mr Klasra in his Vlog said that claimed DG FIA Bashir Memon was sent on forced leave after he refused to carry out political witch hunt on desires of the ruling party members.

For more interesting details about the charges on which PTI wanted a treason case against Khawaja Asif, click the Link: https://youtu.be/FvUQMA_QwGI

FIA investigated a number of high profile cases of financial corruption including the multi billion rupee ‘Fake Bank Accounts Case’ during the tenure of Mr Bashir Memon, a police official of impeccable professional credentials.

The case of outstanding dues of almost Rs90 Billion against Karachi Electric (KE) was also investigated during the tenure of Mr Bashir Memon, who is due for retirement in December after thirty five years of service. Abraaj Group holds major shares in KE and its owner, Arif Naqvi, was close to Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended a couple of official meetings before he was convicted for financial fraud in UAE and later arrested in United Kingdon on charges of money laundering.

Sources privy to meetings allege that Arif Naqvi had sought Prime Minister Imran Khan’s help in writing off of outstanding dues of KE but the same could not materialize due to letters of FIA investigation cautioning the authorities about multi billion outstanding liabilities of KE to be recovered.

Informed circles in Islamabad claim PM Imran Khan was unhappy with DG FIA for writing letters of caution to authorities about billions of outstanding liabilities of KE that hindered the sale of KE to a Chinese investor – proceeds of which could have helped Prime Minister Khan’s friend avoid financial default of Abraaj Group.

Sources claim DG FIA was also under immense pressure to implicate the top PMLN leadership for showing videos of Judge Arshad Malik during a press conference led by PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz and flanked by other top leaders.

The investigations in the case are ongoing but it seems desire of the ruling party for prosecution under Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act seems a distant possibility after strict criterion about admissibility of video evidence was laid down by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.

Sources close to DG FIA said that Mr. Bashir Memon always upheld the merit and always refused to oblige masters who wanted to misuse official powers for political with-hunting.

Mr Bashir Memon is due to retire after an illustrious career of service to Pakistan in police service in December 2019.