Farogh Naseem, Shehzad Akbar 'refute allegations' by ex-FIA DG regarding Justice Isa
Law Minister Farogh Naseem and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar have denied allegations made by former director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Memon.
Speaking on Geo News' programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath' on Tuesday night, Memon alleged that he was pressured by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Naseem and Akbar to initiate a case against Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Memon's allegations, however, were swiftly denied by the government officials.
The law minister via Twitter refuted the "baseless allegations" levelled by Memon. "I have never discussed any issue regarding Justice Isa with Memon. Azam Khan, Shahzad Akbar and Memon have never come to my office together." "Azam Khan has only come to my office once and that was all by himself only to discuss legal reforms," he said.
"PM Imran, Azam Khan or Shahzad Akbar have never ever stated to me that they have discussed anything with Memon about Justice Isa," he said.
Akbar also refuted claims of any such meeting about Justice Isa, calling the allegations "rubbish". "He was never called for any meeting with PM or myself on Justice Qazi Faez Isa issue, and there was no meeting with the law minister and him as he claims. Similarly he was never told to start any case against any specific individual." "Only case referred to FIA was of sedition by the federal cabinet. I have instructed lawyers in personal capacity to initiate legal action for his slander," he said.
Later in the day, Akbar's lawyers sent a defamation notice worth Rs500 million to Memon terming his allegations as "false, politically motivated and absurd" and demanding an unconditional apology.
The notice stated that Memon "without any evidence or factual basis blamed [Akbar] of pressurising you in an alleged meeting held at [Akbar's] office and painted a false narrative as if [the premier's aide] holds some malicious agenda against" Justice Isa.
It said that Memon's "defamatory statements are only a continuation of a hateful media campaign which has been launched at the behest of those criminal and corrupt elements which current government is trying to investigate and prosecute in a completely transparent, fair and neutral manner; through a judicial forum".The notice asked Memon to retract his statements within 14 days and issue an "unconditional public apology" via newspaper and electronic media along with paying Rs500mn as "compensation for causing irreparable damage to [Akbar's] reputation".
Speaking to media, the former FIA DG said that he was first called to the Prime Minister's Office where the premier told him he was "a very good officer" and to "have strength"."At the time, I was not aware of the nature of the case and whom I was to proceed against [and] that it would concern a judge of the apex court."
He said that he was taken to Shahzad Akbar's office where it was revealed he was to proceed against Justice Isa. Later, he also allegedly visited the law minister's office. "Naseem was also convinced that a case should be made against Justice Isa and asked me to play a role." Memon said he tried to explain how this was not possible as Justice Isa was a Supreme Court judge. "This is the job of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and it has the constitutional authority.
It does not fall within the FIA's terms of reference (TORs)." He claimed that the ministers still tried to convince him to proceed. "I gave examples from the law and the constitution, which in their opinion was the incorrect interpretation but then I had to put my foot down.