Tag: FIA

  • Khan appears before in FIA investigation after controversial X post

    Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan, after refusing to appear twice before the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) investigation regarding the 1971 Fall of Dhaka controversial tweet case, has finally joined the agency’s probe on June 7, Geo News reports.

    “Every Pakistani should study the Hamood ur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” the caption read on the controversial video uploaded by Khan’s X account.

    Previously, Khan refused to appear before the FIA’s investigation team, stating that he would like his legal representation to be there.

    Khan was later interrogated with his lawyers present, Chaudhry Zaheer Abbas and Intezar Hussain Panjutha.

    Another PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan refused to join the probe due to a “busy schedule”, whereas, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Central Secretary Information PTI Raoof Hasan appeared before the investigators on Wednesday.

    Additionally, the Islamabad High Court (IHC), following a petition against the FIA’s notices, also directed the probe agency not to take any adverse action against them, directing the PTI leaders to join the probe.

  • Sarim Burney admits to wrongdoing in human trafficking case

    Sarim Burney admits to wrongdoing in human trafficking case

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has said that social worker Sarim Barney has admitted to making a mistake in his initial statement in a human trafficking case.

    His wife Aliya may also be investigated in the case in the coming days.

    An FIR has been registered against the social activist running a Welfare Trust in Karachi by the Human Trafficking Cell of FIA on charges of trafficking of children from Pakistan to America.

    The present charge includes the smuggling of a newborn girl named Haya to America. The girl was allegedly bought from her parents for 1 million rupees. Sarim Burney and his acquaintances assisted in the transfer.

    The girl’s parents are poor, and their statement has been recorded by FIA.

    Geo’s Afzal Nadeem Dogar reports that more than 15 girls, along with other children, have been smuggled this way.

    American crime agencies are also investigating Sarim Burney. His records of the children he transferred to America have been provided to the FIA officials from the embassy.

    FIA officials state that Sarim Burney’s wife is also a beneficiary in the documents of the trust. After verification by the Sindh government, Alia Sarim Burney will also be named in the case.

    More cases of child trafficking and money laundering will be registered against Sarim Burney, FIA told Geo.

    Burney is accused of trafficking more than 25 children to the US and illegally getting them adopted in the country, as per FIA. He has also been accused of fraud and falsification of documents, said the agency.

    Sarim was placed under surveillance by US authorities during his recent visit to the US and was questioned twice.

    Earlier today, the FIA said that the social worker admitted “wrongdoing” in the human trafficking case against him in the wake of his arrest. “Sarim Burney was interrogated twice. He admitted making a mistake in the initial statement following his arrest,” said the officials.

    He appeared before the court today(Wednesday), where he candidly told reporters that he would emerge from this. However, the investigation officer requested the court to order Burney’s physical remand for investigation regarding the matter.

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  • Gohar confirms PTI’s socials’ handled by Jibran Ilyas, Azhar Mashwani

    Gohar confirms PTI’s socials’ handled by Jibran Ilyas, Azhar Mashwani

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Gohar Khan has revealed during an investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that Jibran Ilyas and Azhar Mashwani manage the party’s social media accounts from abroad, Express Tribune has reported.

    FIA has initiated a probe regarding the controversial video released from Imran Khan’s social media account about the 1971 Fall of Dhaka.

    During the inquiry, Barrister Gohar emphasised that he did not agree with the decision to upload the controversial video. He confirmed that Ilyas and Mashwani are primarily responsible for content creation and video production.

    During the FIA’s cybercrime inquiry into the contentious video, Barrister Gohar was interrogated for two hours, while the party’s Information Secretary, Raoof Hasan, was questioned for four hours.

    Meanwhile, Azhar Mashwani today posted on X, “My two elder brothers Prof. Mazhar and Prof. Zahoor Mashwani were picked up from our house in Township Lahore at 2:50 pm today by dozens of CTD uniformed and plain clothed people.”

  • FIA arrests social activist Sarim Burney from Karachi

    FIA arrests social activist Sarim Burney from Karachi

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested social activist Sarim Burney from Karachi on charges of human trafficking, Geo News reported on Wednesday.

    Authorities apprehended him when he landed in Karachi from a tour to the United States (US) of America. A source in FIA revealed that authorities arrested Burney on a complaint by the US government.

    Sarim Burney allegedly adopted 25 children and illegally smuggled them to the US, the FIA source added.
    The source claimed that the FIA has started an investigation into the matter.

    The activist runs the Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International, a non-profit trust “representing the oppressed and less privileged population”, according to the organisation’s website.

    As per the website, the trust provides “legal services for child abuse, harassment, sexual assault, human trafficking, domestic violence, violation of human rights, workers compensation rights and other serious crimes.”

  • Imran Riaz not allowed to go abroad despite court orders

    Imran Riaz not allowed to go abroad despite court orders

    YouTuber Imran Riaz was allegedly stopped by immigration authorities at Islamabad International Airport and not allowed to perform Hajj because his name was on Exit Control List (ECL).

    In a video shared on social media, Riaz could be seen talking with an immigration official grabbing a paper and saying, “According to this, my name should be removed from Exit Control List (ECL) and Passport Control List (PCL) and if the Judge has ordered this then this list should have been updated.”

    The officer agreed with him and said, “Either the list should be updated or you require a one-time special permission to fly abroad.”

    On May 29, the YouTuber shared on social media that his name was removed from the no-fly list on the orders of the Islamabad High Court and he would go to perform Hajj.

    On June 3, Riaz wrote on X that despite the court orders his name wasn’t removed from ECL and PCL.

  • Crackdown begins on anti-state content on social media

    Crackdown begins on anti-state content on social media

    A crackdown has been launched against people sharing anti-state content on social media. So far, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two suspects from Rawalpindi.

    The FIA inquiry is aimed at people involved in propaganda against Pakistan’s military institutions and important personalities.

    FIA teams conducted raids at various locations in Rawalpindi and arrested two suspects, stating that the accused were involved in spreading fabricated and fake news against the armed forces.

    Among the arrested suspects are Yasir Arafat and Irfan Abbas who were taken into custody from Rawat and Gujar Khan areas.

  • The cipher was classified, copies to be destroyed within six months, Khan kept it knowingly, without authorisation: Investigation agency tells court

    The cipher was classified, copies to be destroyed within six months, Khan kept it knowingly, without authorisation: Investigation agency tells court

    Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor Hamid Ali Shah informed Islamabad High Court (IHC) that former Prime Minister Imran Khan was aware of the sensitivity of the diplomatic cipher but he didn’t protect it. The FIA prosecutor also said that Imran Khan not only kept the copy of cipher without permission but also failed to safeguard it.

    He also said that the main purpose of cipher security is to prevent its circulation to unauthorised individuals.

    Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the petitions of founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday in the cipher case.  

    “The cipher document is stamped as classified, and its copies are mandated to be destroyed after six months,” the FIA prosecutor explained, and added that even after declassification, stringent measures are in place for its disposal.  

    However, the chief justice asked how the accused will present a defence without a lawyer and what the impact of the accused’s statement will be. In response, the FIA prosecutor said that the defence doesn’t need legal representation under Section 342.

  • Crackdown intensifies against illegal constructions in Karachi

    Crackdown intensifies against illegal constructions in Karachi

    The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has intensified efforts to combat unauthorised constructions across Karachi, leading to the demolition of several structures, including wedding halls.

    In a recent operation targeting illegal construction in District Central Karachi, SBCA personnel faced gunfire from unidentified individuals. Despite the danger, SBCA officials pressed on, successfully demolishing the fourth floor of a targeted building.

    The Director General of SBCA, Abdul Rasheed Solangi, swiftly directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Central to apprehend the culprits and initiate legal action against those responsible for the shooting.

    Solangi stressed the crucial need for resolute enforcement against illegal construction, commending the dedication and integrity of the SBCA staff. He assured them of unwavering support to ensure their safety and effectiveness in carrying out their duties amidst challenges.

    The crackdown on illegal construction continues across various parts of the city. Abdul Rasheed Solangi, along with the Demolition Squad, oversaw the demolition of multiple buildings in areas such as Essa Nagri, Paposh Nagar, and Gulberg.

    Additionally, over 13 illegal structures have been dismantled in localities including Saddar Town, Jamshed Town, Gulberg, and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

    Director General Abdul Rasheed Solangi personally supervises the ongoing crackdown on illegal construction, underscoring the authority’s commitment to uphold building regulations and ensure public safety.

    Meanwhile, Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani has issued directives to eradicate all forms of unauthorised construction in the city. He emphasised the importance of taking stringent action against any SBCA officials found complicit in facilitating illegal construction.

  • IHC puzzled by FIA singling out Imran, Qureshi in cipher case

    IHC puzzled by FIA singling out Imran, Qureshi in cipher case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday questioned why the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was only specifically investigating former Prime Minister Imran khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for not returning the diplomatic cipher even though others involved in the case have done the same.

    Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb gave his remarks during the hearing of appeals filed by both Khan and Qureshi against their conviction.

    Defence council Barrister Salman Safdar presented his argument that the concerned diplomatic cipher was sent to the top eight offices, including the president, PM’s principal secretary, foreign secretary, army chief, director general of Inter-Services Intelligence, chief justice of Pakistan and cabinet secretary.

    However, the defense argued, none of the mentioned recipients returned the diplomatic cable to the Foreign Office when the inquiry commenced in October 2022.

    The other recipients didn’t return the cable for over a year and did so only when proceedings were started against only the ex-PM and FM.

    Justice Aurangzeb asked for an explanation of this move by FIA, to which Barrister Safdar replied it showed “selective prosecution, political victimisation, colourable exercise of power and defective investigation”.

  • ‘Stop arresting journalists’; Supreme Court orders FIA

    ‘Stop arresting journalists’; Supreme Court orders FIA

    A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, issued a directive instructing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to refrain from arresting any journalists until the next hearing of the suo motu case concerning the alleged harassment of media personnel.

    During the hearing, the lawyer for the Press Association of the Supreme Court, Barrister Salahuddin, argued that action was taken against journalists in the name of violation of privacy. The chief justice asked the lawyer how he would define privacy.

    Salahuddin said that the FIA had become accustomed to the misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). He added that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had declared PECA’s Section 20 null and void. He replied in negative, when the chief justice asked whether the decision was challenged.

    Chief Justice Isa raised questions about the issuance of notices to journalists under Section 160 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) before the registration of any First Information Report (FIR).

    The chief justice pointed out that many times there was a pressure from the above, so the officials send a notice to ward off the pressure, yet no FIR was registered and no arrest was made. Under this notice, he added, they could call anyone as witness.

    In response, Salahuddin stressed the importance of providing comprehensive details alongside such notices and argued that notices should only be sent after the registration of an FIR. Chief Justice Isa, however, suggested that officials might be reaching out to individuals to ascertain information before proceeding further.

    The court adjourned the hearing until April 2, ordering the FIA to refrain from arresting journalists until then. Chief Justice Isa emphasized that the court would only invalidate legal processes if they were proven illegal, highlighting the need for clarity and adherence to due process in such matters.