LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has accused former prime minister Imran Khan of misusing his protective bail to avoid court hearings in a prohibited funding case against his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party.
The agency Saturday filed a petition with the banking court, which is hearing the case, requesting that a medical board be formed to examine Khan.
The case, which was filed by the state through the Corporate Banking Circle of the agency in Islamabad in October of last year, alleges that Khan and other leaders of the opposition party received prohibited funding for their party.
The former prime minister was granted interim bail by a special court in Islamabad after being shot during an assassination attempt at a rally in Wazirabad in November. He has since received extensions on his bail due to medical reasons.
In the application filed with the banking court on Saturday, the FIA said that Khan’s bail application was still pending before the court.
“After getting an interim bail, the accused is misusing the concession and not appearing before this honourable court and, in fact, he is not cooperating with the process of law and to date, neither he joined the investigation nor he is appearing before the court on one pretext or the other,” the agency claimed.
It also said that a “stereotype (sic) medical certificate” was being presented from a cancer hospital, a reference to Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, “although the petitioner alleges he has issues related to orthopaedic (sic)”.
The agency claimed the medical report presented by Khan was issued by a hospital which was “owned” by him, “thus the said reports are otherwise not credible”.
“The principles of fair play and justice require that the accused is to be examined by the board of expert doctors on the subject from PIMS or Polyclinic and if their reports can be entertained.
“It is respectfully prayed that order of the constitution of a medical board and examination of accused may graciously be passed and said board may kindly be directed to submit report qua physical health or mobility of accused in the light of injuries claimed by him on his leg in the best interest of justice.”
