FIA summons three PML-N leaders in judge video scandal.

Byline: Zulqernain Tahir

LAHORE -- The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under its new chief Wajid Zia became active against the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) on Monday and summoned its three main leaders in the video scandal of accountability court judge Arshad Malik who convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case.

Mr Sharif's close aide Senator Pervaiz Rashid and PML-N Punjab information secretary Azma Bokhar have been summoned for Dec 30, and deputy secretary general Attaullah Tarar for Dec 27 at the FIA's Lahore office to record their statements.

In a notice, the FIA summoned them under section 160 CR.P.C in the FIR no 24/2019 of cyber crime. 'FIA is conducting investigation in the subject case and reportedly you are well aware of the facts and circumstances of this case. Therefore, you are directed to appear before the investigation officers at FIA zonal office-I on Temple Road Lahore on Dec 27 and Dec 30,' the notice to the PML-N leaders said.

Reacting sharply, a PML-N senior leader told Dawn that party's apprehensions about Imran Khan's move to appoint Wajid Zia as the FIA chief had proved true. 'Former FIA head Bashir Memon had reportedly refused to follow PM Khan's order to go after the PML-N leaders in false cases. On this, the premier sent him home and replaced him with a man of his choice to complete his unfinished business with the opposition leadership,' he alleged.

Agency is now led by Wajid Zia, who collected evidence against the Sharifs in Panama case

Wajid Zia was a star witness who had gathered evidence against Nawaz Sharif and his family members in the Panama Papers case that finally led his (Sharif) ouster from the office of the prime minister.

Attaullah Tarar told Dawn that he would appear before the FIA and record his statement. Earlier, the FIA had sent a questionnaire to the three, seeking their replies about their presence in the July 6 presser in Model Town where Maryam Nawaz released the purported video of judge Arshad Malik claiming that he (judge) confessed he had been 'pressurised and...