LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday stayed the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) summons notice issued to PTI Chairman Imran Khan in its probe into the audio leaks – allegedly The threat from America was related to existing cyphers.
Earlier, after dismissing the registrar’s office’s objection regarding the jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court, Justice Asjad Javed Gharal directed the court to hear Khan’s case challenging the FIA’s authority to summon the PTI chief. Schedule a hearing on the application.
Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar while arguing before the court said that the FIA did not mention in its notice whether the petitioner was called as a witness or a suspect.
Justice Gharal asked if there was an inquiry into how the audio was leaked in the first place. Advocate Safdar replied to the court that it is still unknown. The judge said that the incident should be investigated.
The lawyer said that Khan’s application in this regard is pending in the Supreme Court. Justice Gharal asked whether everyone has been included in the inquiry of the audio leaks case or only Imran Khan is being investigated?
Advocate Safdar said that FIA is being used to pursue politically motivated cases. “We appeal to the court to take cognizance of this malice,” Khan’s lawyer said, adding, “We fear an FIR in this case as well”.
He requested the court to suspend the FIA’s final notice. When the court questioned the FIA’s authority to issue notices, Khan’s counsel said the agency had no authority to take such action.
Reacting to the above conversation between Advocate Safdar and Justice Gharal, the Federation’s counsel said that the FIA should be summoned to the court.
Later, the hearing was adjourned till December 19.
Petition
The inquiry initiated by the FIA as per the petition is illegal, illegal and without any authority and jurisdiction. The PTI chairman’s request also includes the names of the Home Secretary, the Director General of FIA and the head of the inquiry team.
Khan has argued before the court that the notice sent to him is “absolutely unclear as to what offence, if any, he is being interrogated for”. He also told the court that the notice was silent on any criminal wrongdoing by him.
The former prime minister also told the court that he had already challenged the matter in the Supreme Court, alleging that the case was “politically motivated” aimed at arm-twisting and harassing him.
He also said that his “political opponents” had “released and circulated” “manipulative audios” for “false purposes”.
The PTI chief also claimed in his petition that the agency was being used as a tool to pressure and blackmail him.
“This inquiry is a flagrant abuse of power by the FIA which is being done in bad faith,” the petition said. It has also said that “illegal works” are violating their fundamental rights.
Khan, as an interim relief, has requested the court to “suspend the operation” of the FIA inquiry till his plea is addressed. While the former prime minister has requested the court to set aside the inquiry initiated by the FIA and declare the notice sent to him “illegal, illegal and without legal authority”.
In the two audio leaks that took the internet by storm and shocked the public, former prime minister, then federal minister Asad Umar and then principal secretary Azam Khan can be heard allegedly discussing US cyphers. And how to use it in yourself. interest.
On September 30, the federal cabinet took notice of the matter and constituted a committee to probe the contents of the audio leaks. In October, the federal cabinet of the coalition government gave the green signal to formally initiate legal proceedings against the former prime minister after allegedly leaking audio of him and other PTI leaders discussing US cyphers. were gone
The committee recommended legal action over the audio leaks allegedly involving Khan, Azam and others. The Federal Cabinet approved the summary through circulation.
The investigation into the American cypher and audios allegedly featuring Imran Khan and others was handed over to the FIA. Once the FIA was given the task of investigating the case, it summoned Khan, Umar and other party leaders.
