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ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Asad Mahmood has been declared a deliberate defaulter and absconder from investigation for failing to appear before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in an illegal recruitment case, ARY News reported.<\/strong><\/p>\n The FIA Anti-Corruption Circle has tightened its investigation against Asad Mahmood over alleged illegal appointments in Pakistan Post and other cases.<\/p>\n According to details, the federal investigation agency declared the JUI-F leader a deliberate defaulter and absconder from investigation after he failed to appear despite being served a legal notice.<\/p>\n The FIA has also recommended placing Asad Mahmood\u2019s name on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) and the stop list.<\/p>\n The agency has further recommended converting the ongoing inquiry into a formal case and registering an FIR under relevant legal provisions.<\/p>\n The FIA had summoned Asad Mahmood on November 2 for questioning in connection with the investigation into alleged illegal recruitment in Pakistan Post.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, legal proceedings are also underway against JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asad Mahmood and other party leaders in corruption and other cases.<\/p>\n Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly criticised Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, saying the veteran politician had crossed the line with his remarks about the state and would face a strong response.<\/p>\n Speaking in the Senate, Naqvi said he had held Fazlur Rehman in high regard but that the JUI-F chief\u2019s reported statement about spitting on the state had left no room for further respect.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to respect Maulana Fazlur Rehman a lot, but after his statement about spitting on the state, there is no room left for respect for him,\u201d Naqvi said.<\/p>\n He accused Fazlur Rehman of treating the state as a source of benefit, alleging that the state was considered a mother only when political interests were being served.<\/p>\n \u201cThe state is a mother to them as long as they continue to draw benefits from it. When they do not get a share in the state or government, they say they will spit on it. This is not appropriate,\u201d the interior minister said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n