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Tag: FIA

  • Imran Riaz is missing again: Three possible reasons why we don’t know where he is right now

    Imran Riaz is missing again: Three possible reasons why we don’t know where he is right now

    Youtuber Imran Riaz Khan is under arrest once again and Pakistanis have a lot to say

    The reason for YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan’s arrest is currently disputed. The journalist was arrested Thursday night.

    Here are three possibilities behind his arrest:

    1. Earlier, Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing had summoned Khan and journalist Asad Toor, for allegedly being a part of an anti-judiciary campaign on social media platforms, calling them to appear on February 23.

    2. According to court reporter A. Waheed Murad, Imran Riaz has been summoned by Lahore court to present his defence for taking the Darabi Lake contract along with his father in Lahore court.

    3. While his detention is being condemned, he is being criticised for recently resharing an inflammatory post on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision to grant bail to a member of Ahmadiyya community which sparked severe backlash.

    Khan is being criticised for further inciting hate and violence by resharing a hateful post.

    Even though the original post was deleted, his apparent endorsement remains condemnable.

  • Imran Khan is in jail for 10 years: what does he want you to do?

    Imran Khan is in jail for 10 years: what does he want you to do?

    In a recent message issued from jail, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan has told his supporters what to do in case he is sentenced in the cipher case.

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and senior PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years each in the cipher case today. Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard delivered the verdict orally at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

    Khan expressed concerns about the ongoing trial and other alleged false cases in a post on X (former Twitter). He highlighted the challenges faced in ensuring a fair trial, emphasizing the manipulation of legal proceedings and attempts to prematurely conclude the case.

    “Cipher case has twice been declared null and void by the Islamabad High Court followed by orders of a retrial because both times this case was being tried outside of law and constitution,” Prime Minister Khan stated.

    He further pointed out that despite the central witnesses’ testimonies yielding no substantial evidence against him and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the orchestrators of the ‘London Plan’ seem determined to conclude the trial without following proper legal procedures.

    “It’s not a trial; it’s a fixed match, with results predetermined by the architects of the London Plan and their cohorts. Hence, I am aware of the outcome even before the trial concludes,” Khan asserted.

    Addressing his supporters, Khan cautioned against falling into the trap set by those who wish to exploit the situation for their interests. He urged them to stay vigilant and not be swayed by provocations aiming to incite protests on the streets.

    “Some want me to receive a harsh punishment in this case to fuel public outrage, leading to street protests akin to the May 8 scenario. Others hope for a sense of despair and disappointment among you, keeping you confined to your homes on February 8,” he stated.

    Khan called upon the people to view the situation as a test of their resilience and commitment to justice. He reminded them of the power of their vote, urging them to stand against the manipulative forces and ensure a fair electoral process.

    “My faith is that just as you broke free from the chains of fear in the past, you will come out in millions on election day, defeating the architects of the London Plan and showing them that we are not helpless animals to be herded. I believe February 8 will be a day of victory, Insha’Allah,” concluded Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    What is a Cipher case?

    Imran Khan faced allegations that he violated the Official Secrets Act when he disclosed a secret diplomatic cable, called the Cipher. This was sent by Pakistan’s embassy in Washington in March 2022. Khan reportedly lost possession of the diplomatic cable later.

    Both Khan and Qureshi claimed that the cable had a threat from the US to topple the PTI government which was then in power in Pakistan.

    Khan was ousted from the prime ministerial office in April 2022 after a no-confidence vote. Since being relieved of the premier post, more than 150 cases have been slapped against him.

  • ‘I am strongly against stopping criticism, as freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution,’ Chief Justice Faez Isa

    ‘I am strongly against stopping criticism, as freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution,’ Chief Justice Faez Isa

    The Supreme Court (SC) has instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to promptly withdraw notices sent to journalists involved in a “malicious campaign” against the judiciary and institutions on social media as per Geo News.

    A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard the case pertaining to harassment of journalists by FIA.

    CJP ISA told Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan that verbal abuse was a different matter and that the FIA should not take action against journalists, especially on criticism.

    The AGP assured the Chief Justice of Pakistan that journalists would not face any action.

    The chief justice remarked that he is strongly against curtailing criticism, as freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution. “I don’t care if you make fun of me, but if you make fun of the judiciary, the country will suffer. You can criticise the Supreme Court, but the Constitution also has some limitations,” he said.

    “If you think that you are benefiting me or the Supreme Court by stopping criticism, then you are harming [the institution],” CJP Isa remarked.

    Qazi Faez Isa also said that media persons are allowed to criticise, but the matter of incitement is different. “We can never restrain a common man or a journalist from criticising.”

    Justice Musarrat Hilali stated that there is no issue with fair criticism, but the language used is wrong.

  • Government says hundreds of social media accounts involved in anti-judiciary campaign

    Government says hundreds of social media accounts involved in anti-judiciary campaign

    Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi stated on Monday that the government has identified over 500 social media accounts involved in a campaign against the judiciary.

    “Action will be taken against those involved in the recent malicious campaign against Supreme Court (SC) judges, in accordance with the law and constitution,” he said, talking to media in Islamabad while he was flanked by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials.

    Solangi said that after the decision of the SC on the electoral symbol “bat” of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a vicious campaign was started against the judiciary.

    “Article 19 of the Constitution marks a boundary for freedom of speech,” he stated.

    On the other hand, PTA officials said that it has the authority to remove objectionable content from social media. He also said that awareness regarding the use of social media is essential, as most people spread lies on social media platforms without any authentic information.

    “Social media’s outreach is enormous and easy, but people are not aware of its utility,” he said.

  • Former Principal Secretary to Imran Khan testifies in court

    Former Principal Secretary to Imran Khan testifies in court

    Azam Khan, the former principal secretary to ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, has testified that the diplomatic cipher provided by the foreign ministry to the ex-Premier had not been returned to the ministry by the time he left the office after a Vote of No Confidence.

    He told the court on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder kept a copy of the contentious cipher and later said it had gone missing.

    Five witnesses named Anis-ur-Rehman, Javed Iqbal, Hadayat Ullah Muhammad Ashfaq, and Azam testified before the court in the cipher case in Adiala Jail. The court adjourned the hearing till January 22.

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had previously booked Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi under the OSA, 1923, last August on charges stemming from the alleged misuse of a diplomatic cipher at the end of the PTI’s rule in March 2022.

    Imran Khan and Qureshi, currently detained in Adiala Jail, were present in the courtroom as Khan appeared to give his deposition.

    Both PTI leaders insisted that Khan swear on the Holy Quran before providing his testimony.

    Azam Khan took a solemn oath on the Holy Quran during the hearing.

    During his statement, Azam Khan revealed that, as Imran’s principal secretary, he was informed by the foreign secretary about a cipher telegram.

    His office provided him with a copy, which he later shared with the then-Prime Minister. Imran, in turn, informed Khan that Qureshi had discussed the content of the telegram with him.

    The cipher telegram pertained to meetings between the Pakistan ambassador to the US and American officials.

    “The former PM stated that American authorities had interfered in Pakistan’s internal affairs. He said it seems the message was intended for internal actors to change the elected government through a vote of no confidence.

    “The former premier retained the copy of the cipher with him and instructed the military secretary, DC, and other staff to look into the matter. He also emphasized taking the public into confidence on the matter,” he said.

    Azam Khan recommended a formal meeting with the foreign ministry and suggested having the foreign secretary read the message from the master cipher. The federal cabinet, after discussing the matter, decided to present it before the National Security Committee (NSC), which then issued a demarche on foreign interference.

    According to Khan, it is customary to return the copy of a cipher to the foreign ministry, but this did not happen in this case.

    “I informed the PM, the PM Office, and staff multiple times that the cipher copy should be returned, but it was not returned until I left my charge,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Interior Secretary on the petitions against the prison trial of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case and the £190 million NAB references.

  • Cashier arrested after allegedly stealing more than three crore in banking fraud

    Cashier arrested after allegedly stealing more than three crore in banking fraud

    Ghulam Muhammad, alleged to be involved in stealing more than three crores in banking fraud, has been arrested from Karachi.

    The Commercial Banking Circle of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted a raid to arrest Ghulam Muhammad.

    According to Director FIA Karachi Zone Zaeem Iqbal, the suspect was posted as a cashier in the branch of a private bank located in Sadar area of Karachi.
    He has been accused of embezzling a total of three crore, 29 lakh and 78 thousand rupees by issuing, without permission, fake cash transits to various branches under the guise of excess cash.

    According to the initial investigation, no request for cash was received from the above branches, while the suspect did not hand over the said amount to the van used for cash transit after making cash entries last year in May, June and July.

    As per FIA, the suspect had fled after cheating. After his arrest, raids are being conducted to apprehend others from the group.

  • Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi indicted in cipher case again

    Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi indicted in cipher case again

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) former chairman Imran Khan and the party’s vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were indicted again in the cipher case on Wednesday.

    A special court established under the Official Secret Act 2023 indicted both PTI leaders with Judge Abdul Hasnat Zulqarnain announcing the decision.

    Both leaders were found guilty of misusing a diplomatic cable issued by the Pakistan embassy in Washington DC for political purposes.

    During the hearing, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Special Prosecutors Shah Khawar and Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi appeared in court, while Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were represented by their lawyers.

    The regular trial of the cipher case against the former prime minister and ex-foreign minister will begin in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

    A hearing was also held on Tuesday, where family members of PTI leaders were also present. Some journalists were also present to witness the proceedings.

    Earlier, after Khan and Qureshi challenged their indictment in the case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared their jail trial “null and void” while allowing intra-court appeals in the case.

  • Three suspects involved in online sexual harassment arrested

    Three suspects involved in online sexual harassment arrested

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested three suspects involved in online sexual harassment from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

    According to a spokesperson of FIA, the men, identified as Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Javed and Jibran Khan, have been arrested from different areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

    The spokesperson said the accused have been found involved in sharing pictures and videos of the affected women on social media.

    The accused also kept demanding money under threat of sharing objectionable material.

    The spokesperson further says that investigation has been initiated with the arrested accused.

    Mobile phones and objectionable materials have been recovered from the accused.

  • Nine beggars offloaded from Umrah flight

    Nine beggars offloaded from Umrah flight

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested nine alleged beggars at Multan International Airport who were all set to travel to Saudi Arabia under the guise of Umrah pilgrims.


    There were six men and three women in the group that was arrested. Authorities were able to figure out their intentions as they were unable to produce evidence of hotel reservations or other legitimate purposes for their visit to Saudi Arabia.


    As they were subjected to scrutiny, the nine people admitted to engaging in begging activities during their stay in Saudi Arabia.


    Subsequently, they were taken into custody by the anti-human trafficking unit for further investigation.


    The operation marks the latest in a series of efforts by the FIA to stop begging rings that exploit individuals seeking to perform Umrah in Makkah. Earlier in October, FIA aimed at blacklisting people who malign the name of the country.


    Previously, a report was submitted to the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis about a shocking percentage of professional beggars who were arrested in the Middle East, 90 per cent of whom are Pakistanis.

  • Does the ex-head of Drug Regulatory Authority have a fake PhD?

    Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) has lodged a complaint against the ex-CEO of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for acquiring the position on the basis of a fake PhD degree, reports Geo.


    Sheikh Akhtar Hussain remained CEO DRAP from 2018 till 2019. FIA has begun searching for Hussain to investigate the matter

    The findings were discovered by the anti-corruption circle in FIA.