FIA registers FIR against Tarin for ‘stalling’ IMF talks

The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime reporting centre on Monday registered a first information report (FIR) against former finance minister Shaukat Tarin on charges of sedition for allegedly stalling talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The FIR, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, stated that in audio clips, “Tareen clearly asked the finance ministers (of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) to write letters stating their respective ministries will not be returning surplus budget to the federal government which will critically affect the then ongoing deal between the government of Pakistan and International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding economic situation of the State”. Read: Tarin fears difficult times for people The registration of the FIR comes just a day after the government allowed the FIA to arrest the former finance minister. “An inquiry against Shaukat Tarin has been completed and the government has allowed the FIA to arrest him,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed while addressing a news conference in Karachi. The investigative agency had sought the initiation of criminal proceedings on sedition and other charges against the former financial czar in connection with the audio clips wherein he allegedly attempted to employ ‘hardball tactics’ to thrust the crucial loan programme into “jeopardy”. FIA’s cybercrime zone had sought the government’s permission for a special complaint under Section 196 (prosecution for offences against the state) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for obtaining cognisance of offences under Section 124-A (sedition) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in an inquiry pertaining to audio leaks pending against Tarin.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/HkEXLW8