LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf central leader Umer Dar has alleged the PML-N government was harassing him on frivolous grounds since he is a complainant in an “Iqama” holding case against defence minister Khwaja Asif.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had summoned PTI leader Umer Dar from Sialkot to interrogate him about a photo-shopped picture of disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which had gone viral on social media.

A picture where Mr Sharif was kissing his mother’s hand was photo-shopped to show he was kissing the hand of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. The picture was released on social media after his meeting with the crown prince in Jeddah.

Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Mr Dar said the FIA had summoned him and interrogated for two hours about the picture.

“I didn’t know (anything) about the origin of the photo-shopped picture,” he said.

He said the FIA had summoned him on the same date when Iqama case against Khwaja Asif was to be heard by the Islamabad High Court.

He said it was ridiculous that FIA itself had become a complainant in this picture case as no one else in the country bothered to lodge a complaint.

He alleged he was being subjected to political victimisation through FIA and added that Khwaja Asif would not be able to avoid disqualification in the Iqama holding case.

“I will not back-track in the (Khwaja Asif) case,” he asserted.

“Defence Minister Khwaja Asif is using federal institutions against me for pursuing cases of holding Iqama and concealing assets,” he alleged.

Mr Dar said he was not afraid of any victimisation and continue standing with PTI Chairman Imran Khan to fight against “state hooliganism”.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2018