The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned PTI leader and former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin following his leaked audio call fiasco with KPK Finance Minister Taimoor Saleem Jhagra.
According to the details in the media, the FIA summoned the former minister for investigation of the leaked audio call between him and Taimoor Saleem Jhagra. Shaukat Tarin has been summoned to the FIA on September 21, 10 am.
“If you failed to appear, it would mean that you have nothing to say in your defence,” read the FIA notice.
The FIA summons comes after the federal government accused the PTI leadership of sabotaging Pakistan’s interests by deliberately pushing the country into default.
Read more: Shaukat Tarin: Inflation is going to increase in coming days
The leaked audio call scandal
Last month, an audio call surfaced where Shaukat Tarin could be heard asking the Punjab Finance Minister Mohsin Leghari to withdraw from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal.
Shaukat Tarin can be heard directing Leghari to tell the lender that the commitment Punjab made was pre-floods and now the province “cannot honor it”.
Shaukat Tareen asking Mohsin Leghari to withdraw from IMF commitments. If Pakistan defaults do they want long lines for petrols and food specially in the middle of these disastrous floods?
I asked when it came to KPK, how besharam did you need to be, well this besharam… pic.twitter.com/ItLKaMlhYY
— Ali Moeen Nawazish (@am_nawazish) August 29, 2022
Another audio of Shaukat Tarin surfaced, where he was talking to KP Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra, and asking him whether he had written the letter or not. Tarin directed Jhagra that the key point of his letter should be the floods and devastations in the province.
Leaked call of KP’s Finance Minister Taimur Jhagra and Shaukat Tarin planning to sabotage IMF package. #FloodsInPakistan #IMF pic.twitter.com/Q0mleMP8iT
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) August 29, 2022
Prior to the audio call leak, Taimur Khan Jhagra wrote a letter to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail saying the provincial government could not fulfill the requirements of the IMF program due to various reasons.
Pertinent to mention that currently, PTI is in governance in KP and Punjab. Therefore, the leaked audio calls raised alarm, and PTI was accused by the incumbent government of hatching a conspiracy against the IMF deal, leading to devastating financial repercussions for Pakistan.
Read more: Govt. & KP Finance Minister trade barbs over IMF deal