ISLAMABAD: Sarfaraz Merchant, who claimed that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was receiving funding from Indian intelligence sources, has recorded his statement with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Monday.

Merchant will be travelling to Karachi after recording his statement, and arrived in country earlier today. The FIA inquiry team was constituted earlier by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, to probe alleged funding to MQM from Indian intelligence agencies.

The FIA had earlier in March started investigation into allegations of funding by Indian intelligence agency RAW to the MQM and had summoned Sarfaraz Merchant, to record his statement and provide evidence, if any. The interior minister had directed the FIA to address any ‘reservations’ Sarfaraz Merchant might have after his allegations against MQM.

FIA Director Islamabad Inam Ghani had contacted Sarfaraz Merchant and had invited him to visit Pakistan, while the latter had promised to give a reply after consulting his legal team. The FIA inquiry team will investigate charges against the party, which include allegations of money laundering, illegal purchase of weapons and RAW funding.

The interior ministry had also sent a communication to all security and intelligence agencies asking them to share with the inquiry team evidence or information relating to the allegations. A decision about the level at which the matter should be taken up with the British authorities will be taken after the submission of a report by the inquiry team.