ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has requested permission from the Interior Ministry to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Tarin for his alleged role in “sabotaging” negotiations between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to a report.
The agency’s investigation into Tarin, who served as finance minister under former prime minister Imran Khan, has been completed and involves leaked audio recordings with former finance ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the FIA, Tarin’s conversations were an attempt to derail the IMF deal and threatened the national security and interests of the country. The inquiry was launched last year after the audio recordings were made public and sparked a heated debate between the government and the PTI.
The allegations against Tarin stem from a phone call he made to the former finance ministers, just ahead of the IMF’s board meeting to approve Pakistan’s bailout package.
In the call, Tarin reportedly asked the ministers to write letters withdrawing their commitment to a surplus budget, which would have jeopardised the IMF deal.
The leaked audio emerged on the day of the IMF’s executive board meeting to consider releasing a $1.2 billion tranche to Pakistan under the Extended Fund Facility. The FIA’s request to arrest Tarin marks a significant development in the case.
