The court rules that the FIA failed to prove the accusations; the procedures initiated in 2022 are coming to an end
Six acquitted in DSP murder. / PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
A banking court in Lahore has acquitted close associates of the PTI founder, ending a foreign funding case initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in 2022.
Banking Court 2 announced the verdict after hearing final arguments, acquitting Hamid Zaman, Tariq Shafi and Asad Kakakhel.
The court found that the prosecution failed to substantiate the allegations against the accused.
Defense lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq, representing the accused, argued that the case lacked credible evidence and that the prosecution had been unable to establish any illegal foreign financing. He argued that the accusations were based on speculation rather than documented evidence.
According to the prosecution case, the FIA had registered the case in 2022, alleging that the accused were involved in receiving and handling foreign funds for the Insaf Trust, in violation of existing laws.
The agency then filed an appeal before the banking court.
After reviewing the case and hearing the arguments of both parties, the court ruled in favor of the accused and ordered their acquittal, thus closing the case.
Meanwhile, a district court in Lahore reserved its verdict on a petition filed by Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari in a separate case relating to the alleged circulation of a fake video on social media.
The case is ongoing against social media activist Falak Javed and others, accused of creating a fake viral video online.
During the proceedings, Azma Bukhari requested the court to record her statement at the end of the trial, arguing that the statements of prosecution witnesses should be recorded first.
However, the defense objected to the plea, saying that under the law, the complainant’s statement must be recorded first.
Defense lawyer Rana Maroof Advocate requested the court to summon Azma Bukhari in the next hearing to record her statement and sought dismissal of her application.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision on the application.
