The Islamabad High Court has issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency in Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s prohibited funding case. IHC Justice Amir Farooq heard the petition filed by PTI Senator Saifullah Nyazee. The judge issued notice to the FIA while directing to attach the petition with other applications pertaining to the prohibited funding case. During the hearing, Justice Farooq inquired if this was the same case already being filed in the court and was fixed for hearing on Oct 19. The lawyer replied in affirmative. He told the court that first banking circle held an inquiry into the case and now the FIA cybercrime wing was conducting a probe into it. He said that the cybercrime had started a new inquiry into the funding raised through a website ‘namanzoor.com’.

Nyazee was detained by the FIA on Oct 7 in a case pertaining to the prohibited funding. The PTI leader was summoned by the agency several times but never showed up for investigation. The FIA on Friday took him for interrogation and questioning. The FIA had also raided the residences of PTI leaders in Lahore and Islamabad to arrest the party members named in the funding case over their alleged non-cooperation. The agency also detained PTI leader Hamid Zaman who looks after the affairs of Insaf Trust. On Saturday, the former ruling party approached the Islamabad High Court with a request to restrain the investigation agency from action against its leadership.

In its petition, the PTI stated that after the removal of its government, the party had set up a website named “namnzoor.com” to collect donations from overseas Pakistanis. It further states that the primary donor can visit the website and provide their details to go to the payment page, where they can use their bank account or PayPal to make the payment. It said that details of these donations are being shared with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in compliance with the Election Act 2017. The petition went on to say that it was the prerogative of the ECP to look into matter of funds collection but raids were illegal and the FIA should be restrained.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP