Govt again refuses to reinstate Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: During proceedings of the NICL scam case, Attorney General Maulvi Anwar informed the Supreme Court that the government had once again refused to reinstate Zafar Qureshi, the chief investigative officer of the case, Geo News reported.

During proceedings Justice Khilji Arif remarked that the court wanted national wealth to be returned adding that it was the order of the court to allow Qureshi and his team to probe the NICL scam.

In his remarks Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry said: "if the government has made its decision to not follow court orders than the court will form a commission to probe the matter."

The SC said that it would provide the government with another opportunity to reinstate Qureshi. Zafar Qureshi who was present during the proceedings informed the court that his phones were being tapped and his children were being harassed.

The court summoned all records relating to Zafar Qureshi and four members of his team from the establishment division and interior secretary. It was revealed in the documents that the summary for the suspension of Zafar Qureshi was written by the interior secretary and was approved by the Prime Minister. To this the Chief Justice remarked that the interior secretary had no legal right to write this summary.

On Thursday, the government had reversed the transfer of four officials who were members of the team probing the NICL scam. However it had refused to reinstate the chief investigative officer Zafar Qureshi. The Supreme Court had ordered the establishment secretary to initiate departmental proceedings against the acting DG FIA for violating court orders.

Under a July 7 ruling of the Supreme Court, any disciplinary action against Zafar Qureshi was suspended which was communicated to the DG FIA who did not comply with court orders. Zafar Qureshi had been suspended for speaking to the media and a departmental inquiry had been launched against him.