Bashir Memon says PTI turning FIA into ‘political wing’

I was told to bring Sharifs down: Bashir Memon

Former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general Bashir Memon has said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) will turn the agency into a “political wing”, while referring to how he was repeatedly asked to curate cases against the Sharifs and others.

Speaking with reporters outside the District Lahore Additional and Sessions Court on Tuesday, Memon talked about the cases against the Sharifs and repeated his earlier revelation that nothing could be found in the money laundering case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif.

“There is nothing in this case against Shehbaz Sharif,” claimed the former DG FIA, who had applied for pre-arrest bail before the sessions court, apprehending that he would be arrested by the agency.

“I personally saw that case and had clearly said that it lacks merit for a case,” he further revealed.

The former DG FIA also revealed that Prime Minister Imran Khan repeatedly asked him for a case against Arif Naqvi of K-Electric but he did not do that.

“There should have been an inquiry into the allegations but all that changed and ultimately he was made an accused,” surprised Memon about the attitude of the authorities concerned.

Speaking about the different aforementioned cases, Memon added that PTI’s engagement with the FIA cases was quite damaging.

“The PTI was going to make a political wing of the FIA,” he regretted, urging the incumbent head of the agency to play his due role to save the sanctity and respect of the state institution.

Memon also addressed his picture with an Arab sheikh for which he said he was trolled previously. Memon said that he [sheikh] visited his house and the trolling against him began by using his picture with the guest.

“That Arab sheikh is now going to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan by tomorrow and he is the man who is making an investment of $50 million,” he said.

He furthered that that Umar Ayub and many other people in the power corridors had their pictures with that sheikh.

Connecting the trolling incident to his current statement, Memon feared he would be trolled again as he said the trolls were getting salaries to do so.

Earlier, Memon had moved a bail petition before the sessions court against his possible arrest in a case.

In that regard, advocate Mian Ashfaq Ali appeared before the court as Memon’s counsel and said that baseless allegations were levelled against his client. Ali said that it was the apprehension of his client that he would be arrested and would be victimized and asked the court to grant him pre-arrest bail.

After hearing initial arguments, an additional district and sessions judge allowed interim bail to Memon till January 31 and directed FIA officials to appear before it with a complete relevant record.

The FIA had previously summoned Memon to interrogate him in a case.

FIA officials had stated last week, when Memon approached the Sindh High Court for interim bail, that the latter was facing many allegations including his close ties with Umar Farooq Zahoor who was allegedly involved in a money laundering case. The officials said that Memon had apparently written to Interpol to withdraw Zahoor’s name from the red notice. Zahoor was wanted by various law enforcement agencies in Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and other countries.

Memon had resigned from his post in December 2019 after locking horns with the PTI government over cases against opposition leaders.