Bashir Memon had accused the government of using the investigative agency for political purposes; Shahzad Akbar serves legal notice on Bashir

ISLAMABAD, APR 28 (DNA) – Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Farogh Naseem and Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior, Shahzad Akbar have rebutted the allegations raised by the former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) chief Bashir Memon.

Reacting to Memon’s interview on private television, Akbar in Tweet, calling the interview rubbish said Bashir Memon was never called for any meeting with PM or myself on Justice Qazi Faez Isa issue and was never told to start any case against any specific individual.

“The only case referred to FIA was of sedition by the fed cabinet. I have instructed lawyers in a personal capacity to initiate legal action for his slander.” On the other hand, Law and Justice Minister Barrister Farogh Naseem also strongly refuted the former FIA chief’s allegations in his tweet.

Dr Farogh Naseem said he had never discussed any issue regarding Justice Qazi Faez Isa with Bashir Memon.  “Azam Khan, Shahzad Akbar and Bashir Memon have never come to my office together. Azam Khan has only come to my office once and that was all by himself only to discuss legal reforms,” the Law Minister tweeted.

Farogh Naseem said that Prime Minister Imran Khan, Azam Khan or Shahzad Akbar have never ever stated to him that they have discussed anything with Bashir Memon about Justice Isa.

Bashir Memon, the former director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), had accused the government of using the investigative agency for political purposes.

Speaking to a private TV channel, the former official said that he was approached by Shahzad Akbar and Farogh Naseem to prepare a charge sheet against Supreme Court (SC) judge, Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

Spilling the beans over other incidences, he said that he was also summoned and asked to take notice of a picture of first lady tweeted by Maryam Nawaz and to charge her under terrorism clauses, which he refused to do. He added that the government had also asked him to imprison the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president for being anti-state, which he refused to do as well.

Memon said that once Prime Minister Imran Khan summoned him and said that LEAs ignore charges against Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif, etc. while they are after Arif Naqvi. He said that the premier told him that Naqvi was his friend. He added that PM Imran accused him of holding a soft corner for opposition leaders.

The former director general of the investigative agency said that he was fired over his refusal to comply with the government’s instructions.