LAHORE: The group of parliamentarians led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf estranged leader Jahangir Khan Tareen ramped up pressure on the government to secure concessions for its leader and his son in corruption and fraud cases instituted against them by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) ahead of 2021-22 budget.

Speaking to the media outside the judicial complex here on Monday, after attending the proceedings of his pre-arrest bail, Mr Tareen, flanked by several group members, demanded the inquiry report prepared by Senator Ali Zafar should be made public immediately, stressing “Justice delayed is justice denied”.

The Tareen-led lawmakers believe the time was ripe to get concessions for their leaders as after the budget is passed, the group will lose its “nuisance value”.

Tainted PTI leader for making Barrister Zafar’s report public at the earliest

Mr Tareen said the Barrister Zafar’s inquiry report was supposed to be made public by the end of May, but it was not out so far. He, however, said there were unconfirmed reports that the senator presented a “verbal report” to Prime Minister Imran Khan, claiming it favoured his (Tareen’s) stance on the sugar scam FIRs.

Asked if the inquiry report turned out otherwise, Mr Tareen claimed he had some information about the report, which he did not want to disclose to the media yet. “Let the report come out first, I will share each and every thing with the media,” he added.

To another query, he denied having met with any high-level official of the government.

“I strongly reject this information as baseless. I have been contesting my case before the courts and waiting for Ali Zafar’s report,” he maintained.

Asked if the government could take action against his group of parliamentarians after the passage of the upcoming budget, Tareen avoided a clear answer and said, “I reiterate my request to do justice with us, not politics.”

About the recent row between Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar and PTI MPA Nazir Chohan, a member of Tareen group, the ruling party’s former secretary general said the situation aggravated after the former got an FIR registered against the latter. He added that his friends would speak on the issue at the right time.

According to the FIR lodged by Racecourse police, Mr Akbar accused Mr Chohan of leveling false allegations concerning his faith on a television channel and putting his (PM’s aide’s) life at risk.

Earlier, PTI MNA Raja Riaz, provincial minister Nauman Langrial and several other parliamentarians accompanied Mr Tareen to the court of Additional District & Sessions Judge Hamid Hussain.

The judge showed his displeasure over the transfer of the investigating officer (IO) in the FIRs matter without the court’s approval.

An FIA deputy director (legal) said the IO was among a number of officers transferred in the country as a routine matter.

Refusing to subscribe to the argument, the judge observed that the court should have been informed before the transfer of the IO. He issued a show cause notice to the deputy director and directed him to submit a written explanation.

The judge extended the pre-arrest bail of Mr Tareen and his son Ali till June 11.

The judge told both prosecution and the defence that he would not hear the case anymore due to change in the seniority of the judges.

The bail matters relating to the FIA are heard by the senior most additional district and sessions judge.

He said the cases in hand would be marked to AD&SJ Ahsan Bokhari, being the senior most judicial officer after the district and sessions judge.

AD&SJ Hussain also heard the pre-arrest bail plea of Tareen and his son in another FIR as duty judge of a special court for banking offences.

He simply adjourned the hearing and extended the bail for the same date.

The presiding judge of the special court had been transferred on May 19.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2021