Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah reprimanded Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials on Wednesday over them failure execute a court order of temporary removal of names of two key assistants of former prime minister Imran Khan – Shahbaz Gill and Mirza Shahzad Akbar – from the flight ban list and ordered to take the names of PTI leaders off “stop list” immediately.
” government should demonstrate that he will not take action based on on revenge”said Judge Minallah, adding that the court would not allow This is. He also managed the FIA director general (GD) don’t “disturb” anyone.
He made these remarks during the hearing of the petitions filed by Gill and Akbar, who sought recall of FIA move which prevents them from traveling abroad.
Their names, along with those of four other PTI members, namely Imran Khan’s coordinator on digital media, Dr. Arsalan Khalid; Director of former Prime Minister Imran secretary Azam Khan; Director General of the Punjab Anti-Corruption Unit Gohar Nafis; and FIA Punjab Zone CEO Mohammad Rizwan. added to the flightless list earlier this week.
Subsequently, Gill and Akbar approached the IHC. on case, and the court yesterday (Tuesday) granted them temporary relief by suspending the FIA’s order to place their names on flightless list.
At today’s hearing, FIA officials told the court that the names of PTI members were on display on “stop list”in the background” of the prevailing circumstances in the country”.
– What happened? Has martial law been introduced? Judge Minallah asked.
At the same time, the officials told the court that the complaint over names of PTI members have been included in in list was received on April 8th.
However, at the previous meeting, the applicants counsel claimed that the names of his clients were placed on in list around 2 am on April 10 – immediately after the adoption by the National Assembly vote of No confidence against former prime minister Imran Khan.
The FIA also told the court today that the complaint was directed by the FIA’s Islamabad Zone. They are added that the names of Akbar and Gilla were added to list “for having assets beyond funds.”
These statements earned FIA rebuke from Judge Minalla, who said, “What do you mean? Is the previous one (PTI) government open these cases against are they (PTI members)? Be serious.”
“Since when has the FIA become independent enough to register cases against people from the current government?” judge added. “Don’t embarrass yourself. Bear in keep in mind that this constitutional court won’t let you do all of that. The court will not allow all this will happen.”
He said new government should “demonstrate that he will not take action based on on revenge”.
“This court has been a witness to what the FIA has done. over in past two years … It is a pity that each government uses the FIA,” said the head of the IHC justice said.
When petitioners counsel told the court that the names of PTI members are still on the no-fly list, despite the order of the court the day before, Judge Minallah asked: “What is the law for adding names to stops list?”
At this point, Akbar urged the referee to interrogate the FIA representatives. on did they initiate an investigation against civil servants whose names were on in list.
Officials told the court that two requests were registered.
As for delay in removal of The names of PTI members from the list of officials said they received the court order late and left offer taraweeh prayers by the time the order reached them.
They then assured the court that his directive would be carried out.
Calling the case “serious”, Judge Minallah sent officials ensure that the names of Gilla and Akbar were taken off in list immediately.
He also pointed out to the FIA Director General that “not one should be persecuted.”
Judge Minalla requested a report on case from FIA DG and interior secretary in next hearing on April 18th.
Petition and order
In his petition, Akbar indicated out that he was placed on flightless list “about 1:55”, just after the vote on in no-confidence motion in The National Assembly took place which, in his words, “showed bad faith on part of respondents who acted on instructions of someone behind scene without asking of any complaint party.”
He urged the court to recognize the actions of the FIA void and unconstitutional, and order its investigation.
Akbar made Ministry of Internal Division, FIA General Director and additional FIA Immigration General Director as respondents.
In his order he issued on petition yesterday, the IHC ordered that “operation of you can’t fly list/PNIL within of the applicants and three other officials, Muhammad Azam Khan, Muhammad Gohar Nafis and Arsalan Khalid, must remain suspended.”
He had also demanded explanations from the respondents regarding the fact that “who authorized the placement of names of the applicants and three other officials closely associated with in former prime minister on in list”because there was no government in place when the names were placed on in list.
“They are expected to convince the court that the claim was not based on victimization,” the court said in its ruling.
