ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday disposed of the petition filed by former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Absar Alam against a notice issued by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after the agency withdrew inquiry against Alam.

Earlier this year, FIA initiated an inquiry against Absar Alam over his tweets and social media posts. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah on March 20 suspended the FIA’s summon issued to Alam.

Mr Alam in some of his tweets had criticised the establishment for interfering in politics. In his petition, he challenged the FIA’s notice which was issued without date and detail of the allegations leveled against him.

While informing the court about withdrawal of inquiry on Monday, the FIA also admitted that initiating inquiry against Alam was a mistake.

Additional attorney general Qasim Wadud requested the court to dispose of this matter accordingly.

Justice Minallah, however, observed that the matter would remain pending and clubbed this with the identical petitions against the alleged highhandedness of the cyber crimes wing of the FIA.

The court would take up this case on Sept 27. The petition cited secretary interior, director general FIA, director cyber crimes and inspector Mazhar Shah of the FIA as respondents.

The FIA summoned him on the complaint of a lawyer who alleged that the ex-Pemra chairman was indulging in anti-state rhetoric.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2021