LHC dismisses FIA’s petition against Umar Farooq Zahoor

LONDON: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed a writ petition filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against the order of the Additional Sessions Judge, who had earlier booked Umar Farooq Zahoor on behalf of a local magistrate. The non-bailable warrant issued against who is currently a Norwegian Pakistani businessman based in Dubai.

News Earlier it was told how former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s advisor on accountability Shahzad Akbar gave the order. FIA will help Zahoor’s ex-wife. And model Sofia Mirza – whose real name is Khush Bakht Mirza – filed several FIRs against him, leading to a domestic dispute between Zahoor and his ex-wife that turned her into custody. gave Twin daughters in criminal case.

In a detailed order, the Lahore High Court observed that the warrant in the FIR against Farooq was issued despite the fact that no summons or notice was issued to him by the magistrate at his foreign address in Dubai where he was residing at the time. were Requirements of relevant provisions of law

The court also observed the contention of the law officer that Farooq had left the country long before the FIA ​​registered a criminal case against Farooq.

He drew the attention of the court that the said warrants were issued by the Magistrate concerned in haste and without fulfilling the required criteria provided in this regard.

The order noted the arguments of Zahoor’s counsel that it was a family matter and due to pressure from persons leading the case at the relevant time, it was converted into a criminal proceeding and since his client He is an ambassador. No punitive action could be taken against him without securing his services through the Liberian Embassy.

Interestingly, it was on the basis of these warrants that the FIA ​​received red notices from Interpol against Zahoor.

In a petition filed by Zahoor in the Lahore High Court, the court had suspended the process of placing the trader’s name in the Exit Control List (ECL) and issuing a red notice against him, as he was exempted. Due to – Courtesy of Liberia’s Ambassador-at-Large status.

Later the Supreme Court modified this order to the extent of ECL only. However, despite clear instructions from the Lahore High Court in the contempt petition filed by Zahoor, the FIA ​​is holding back on removing Zahoor’s name from the red list.

News Earlier told how FIA wrote to Interpol concealing important facts of the case to get a red notice against Zahoor.

Mirza has been involved in a custody dispute against Zahoor for almost 14 years. The Supreme Court has held about 100 hearings in this matter.

The couple’s twin daughters, Zainab and Zaneera, both 15, live with their father in Dubai and have said in interviews that they are happy living in Dubai.

Mirza, however, said she would continue her fight for custody of the twins.

Zahoor has maintained that he was “politically victimized” by the FIA ​​on behalf of his ex-wife who used her contacts through Akbar to pursue him on false allegations of corruption – including in cases closed in foreign jurisdictions.