The coalition government has permitted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to capture Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) finance czar Shaukat Tarin — after the completion of an inquiry against him in a case related to his alleged audio leak — Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Sunday.

The probing authority on Saturday sought the interior ministry’s approval to begin legal actions and eventually arrest Tarin for allegedly sabotaging negotiations between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The FIA has completed its probe against the former finance minister and his leaked audios involving the former Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa finance ministers.

The federal probing authority initiated an inquiry into the matter last year after the alleged telephonic discussions between Tarin and the two provincial finance ministers surfaced that triggered a verbal spat between the government and the PTI for purportedly trying to jeopardise the IMF deal during the recent floods.