LONDON/ISLAMABAD: The SAPM on Accountability and the head of the Asset Recovery Unit, Barrister Shehzad Akbar directed Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to spy on PTI stalwart Jahangir Khan Tareen according to sources privy to these developments.
Previously, The News reported that Tareen’s homes in Islamabad and Lodhran bugged. The publication also claimed that Tareen’s sugar mills and other business interests were also bugged. Tareen’s activities including meetings with sensitive people were also monitored and his phone calls were also taped.
Sources have confirmed that the phone calls of all the members of Tareen’s family were also recorded.
A few weeks ago, a team from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) had raided the head office of Tareen’s sugar mills and seized office records. It is not clear whether the raid was linked to the bugging operation or not.
Shahzad Akbar meanwhile rejected these claims describing them as ‘fiction.
He said, “All concerns of those who were subject of the Sugar Commission inquiry [including Tareen] were raised by them in multiple cases before various high courts as well as the Supreme Court of Pakistan. None [of them were] found worth an order in their favour. The rest is just fiction”.
Sources close to Tareen said that the businessman had nothing to fear, “as each and every detail of his business is available on the records and available with all the relevant authorities in Pakistan.”
Tareen did not deny being spied on his own party’s directives but made it clear that he felt he was unfairly singled out and maligned for no reason.
Previously, Tareen blamed Azam Khan, the secretary to Prime Minister for causing a rift between the two friends who have struggled together.
PTI legislators close to Tareen claim that some elements within the party were not comfortable with Tareen because of his business acumen and his ability to get things moving.
Fawad Chaudhry said, “Tareen played a huge role in the development of PTI and we would not be where we are today without Tareen’s contribution,” he said.
Sources close to Tareen have also said that a forward block under Tareen is being considered which will include 2 federal ministers and 11 PTI MNAs. Sources claimed a future meeting between Tareen and Mian Nawaz Sharif is expected.
