ISLAMABAD: The FIA on Tuesday summoned former finance minister and PTI Senator Shaukat Tarin to record his statement in connection with the controversial audio clips attributed to him, warning him that legal proceedings would be initiated against him in case he failed to appear before investigators in person.

In the audio clips that surfaced on August 29, Mr Tarin could be heard telling the Punjab and KP finance ministers to tell the federal government that their provinces could not post a budget surplus.

According to the FIA’s notice, an inquiry has been initiated against Tarin on the basis of an alleged audio call to Mr Jhagra. It stated: “You are provoking him [KP finance minister] to write a letter to the federal government on behalf of the KP government that it will not return extra money of the fiscal budget so that interruption may be created between IMF and the Government of Pakistan.”

The FIA directed the former finance minister to appear in person to record a version or statement in his defence at the FIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Islamabad on Sept 21 (today).

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2022