June 12, 2025
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
The Islamabad High Court has issued an interim order restraining the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from harassing former Senator Farhatullah Babar, following a petition filed against alleged harassment by the FIA.
On Thursday, Justice Inam Amin Minhas of the Islamabad High Court heard the case and issued notices to the FIA and other concerned parties, seeking their response by the last week of June.
Farhatullah Babar, through his counsels Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, filed the petition under Article 199 of the Constitution, naming the Ministry of Interior, FIA, and other institutions as respondents.
According to the petitioner’s counsel, Farhatullah Babar has been repeatedly issued vague and unlawful notices and summons. The FIA initiated an inquiry on March 25 based on a complaint by a citizen whom Farhatullah Babar does not even know.
The counsel stated that the complainant accused Babar of “suspicious corruption, tax evasion, and acquisition of illegal assets.” Farhatullah Babar appeared before the FIA on March 28; however, he was not provided with a copy of the complaint.
Later, on April 11, a questionnaire containing 12 questions was sent via WhatsApp, with instructions to submit responses by April 7—an impossible deadline since the message came after the due date.
In its interim order, the court restrained the FIA from harassing Babar and adjourned the hearing until the last week of June.
Case Background
It is worth noting that Farhatullah Babar was issued a notice on March 28, 2025, signed by the Deputy Director of the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle. The notice demanded detailed information about all his movable and immovable assets, bank accounts, vehicles, income tax returns, sources of income, perks received during his Senate tenure, foreign funding, and other records.
A 12-point questionnaire was also sent to him, requiring answers by April 7, even though it was only delivered via WhatsApp on April 11.
The FIA’s actions against Babar have drawn strong condemnation from human rights activists, lawyers, journalists, and members of civil society, who have demanded that the FIA immediately withdraw the inquiry and end what they termed a campaign of harassment.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also sharply criticized the inquiry, calling it a state-led attempt to suppress dissent. HRCP labeled the probe unlawful, malicious, and an attempt to malign Babar’s reputation, demanding its immediate withdrawal and a public apology.
Leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have also denounced the inquiry as baseless and regrettable, noting that Farhatullah Babar has not held any public office for over a decade, making the timing of the investigation highly questionable.
Farhatullah Babar is a seasoned political leader with a long career advocating for human rights, enforced disappearances, freedom of expression, and other critical issues. He has consistently spoken out in support of Afghan refugees, women’s rights, against enforced disappearances, and attacks on journalists.