FIA broadens PTI prohibited foreign funding case, court told

Islamabad: The Federal Investigation Agency has widened the scope of the prohibited foreign funding case involving PTI founder and other accused, a banking court was told on Thursday.

Banking Court Judge Abdul Ghafoor Kakar heard the matter. During the proceedings, the investigation officer did not appear before the court because of illness. A special prosecutor attended the hearing and updated the court on the status of the case.

The prosecutor informed the court that two additional suspects and one witness had been included in the case. He further stated that the investigation had been completed and that the challan would be filed at the next hearing.

Following the update, the court directed the prosecution to submit the challan at the next date of hearing and adjourned the proceedings until April 14.

In the same hearing, the court extended the interim bail of nominated suspects Siraj Ahmed and Faisal Qazi until April 14. The court also ordered that they should not be arrested until then.

The FIA has registered the case against the PTI founder and others on charges that include money laundering and other related offences.

Case proceedings

The latest hearing focused on the progress of the investigation and the expected filing of the challan. According to the special prosecutor, the inquiry stage has been completed, and the prosecution is now set to place its findings before the court at the next hearing.

The addition of two more suspects and one witness indicates that the agency has expanded the case beyond the individuals already named earlier in the proceedings. However, the court was told that despite this expansion, the investigation itself has been completed.

The matter will now return to court on April 14, when the FIA is expected to submit the challan as directed by the judge.

Bail extended for two suspects

The court also took up the issue of interim bail for two nominated suspects, Siraj Ahmed and Faisal Qazi. Their interim bail was extended until April 14, and the court ordered that no arrest be made in their case until that date.

The proceedings on Thursday were limited to the status of the investigation, the expected submission of the challan, and the interim relief granted to the two suspects.