ISLAMABAD: As the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) accused Dr Shahbaz Gill and Mirza Shahzad Akbar, the two top aides to former prime minister Imran Khan, of minting money through corrupt practices, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the agency to dispel the impression that inquiries aga­inst them were politically motivated.

The court directed the FIA not to harass the two as well as others placed in the no-fly list.

The FIA submitted a report to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday in response to petitions filed by Mr Gill and Mr Akbar for placing them on the no-fly list.

In the report, the FIA accused Mr Gill and Mr Akbar of owing assets beyond means and plundering money through ‘under-the-table deals’ in matters related to the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Mr Gill and Akbar petitioned the IHC on Tuesday with a plea that they were being politically victimised.

Former PM’s aides accused of minting money through corrupt practices

The IHC Chief Justice, Justice Minallah, after preliminary hearing, suspended the notification of placing them, as well as former special assistant to Prime Minister Dr Arslan Khalid, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Mohammad Azam Khan and Director General of Punjab’s Anti Corruption Establishment Gohar Nafees on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).

Justice Minallah directed the Director General of FIA and the Interior Secretary to depute a senior official well versed with the facts for the case.

FIA’s Director Legal Qaiser Masood appeared before the court on Wednesday.

He informed the court that both Mr Akbar and Mr Gill were facing corruption cases and there was an apprehension that they might flee the country along with some other persons and, therefore, their names had been placed in the PINL.

He submitted a report for the court’s perusal.

As per the report, the “two separate requests were received from FIA Islamabad Zone vide letters of even dated April 8, 2022, to place the names of petitioners on PINL, a temporary stop list which is a transit list”.

It further said that on the night between April 9 and 10, an extraordinary situation developed in the country which necessitated extra vigilance from all institutions. Reports were received from credible sources that the two petitioners and some other individuals might flee the country. In the light of earlier requests/recommendations received from FIA Islamabad Zone, the names of Shahbaz Gill and Shahzad Akbar and other individuals had been placed on PINL.

The FIA accused Mr Gill of “accumulation of wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income through illegal means by misuse of his official position/authority from different housing societies and for settling their matters in CDA”.

Allegations against Akbar are also similar in nature.

The FIA is investigating them under section 409 (criminal breach of trust) that may lead to life imprisonment, 420 (cheating) 7 years imprisonment and section 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act for which the convict might get 03 years’ imprisonment.

Justice Minallah inquired of the FIA’s officials under what authority they had placed the petitioners on PNIL.

The FIA replied that PINL was maintained in the light of the judgement of Supreme Court.

The court directed the FIA to dispel the impression that these inquiries were politically motivated. Justice Minallah directed the FIA chief not to harass the petitioners and adjourned the hearing to April 18.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2022