ISLAMABAD: A suspect allegedly involved in earning money through suspicious transactions from social media has sought release on bail.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested him for financial terrorism and money laundering and recovered crypto-currency besides foreign currency worth millions of rupees from his custody.

Initially, the FIA booked the suspect under Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), Anti-Terrorism Act and Anti Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

However, the investigation agency withdrew the terrorism charges later on.

FIA’s Additional Director Asmatullah Junejo appeared before IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq on Wednesday. He could not convince the bench as to why the FIA had alleged that the suspect was involved in money laundering.

Junejo told the court that the suspect was taken into custody on the report of an intelligence agency.

Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, counsel for the suspect on the other hand argued that the FIA repeatedly changed their stance using one pretext or another.

He argued that the FIA dropped charges of terrorism in the interim challan submitted before the trial court.

Justice Minallah directed Deputy Attorney General Syed Mohammad Tayyab to sit with FIA officials to get some understanding about the issue since the officials could not assist the court in a proper manner.

Subsequently, the court adjourned further hearing till next month.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2021