Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has strongly reacted to news circulating on social media that the Agency had withdrawn a pending money  laundering case against the incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son incumbent Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz and termed it fake.

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The FIA made it clear that it hasn’t withdrawn the case against the accused.

“Fake news is circulating in media regarding withdrawal of the case against political leaders of a party in Lahore.”

The FIA had registered the case which has not been withdrawn.

Proceedings are continuing in the court. Next date of hearing is 14-05-2022.

Terming the news as fake, the FIA further warned that it may legally proceed against the persons involved in spreading this fake news.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the FIA stated that in fact, on April 11, 2022, the prosecutor of the case submitted his opinion based application in the court regarding change of the prosecutor wherein he was instructed not to appear on behalf of prosecution. He mentioned the Investigation Officer, and through him the then DG FIA.

“He was allegedly asked for not appearing as prosecutor. It was not a withdrawal application anyway.”

According to the FIA, on April 11, 2022, Sanaullah Abbasi was the DG FIA and at the time of submission of application, new PM had not taken oath yet.

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The FIA further stated that Tahir Rai was posted as DG FIA on April 22 and this matter pertains to the timing before his arrival in the FIA.

According to the FIA, change of prosecutor is a routine matter. “In the time of previous government too, prosecutor was changed several times in this very case.”

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