NICL case: SC reserves verdict on Zafar Qureshi
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its judgement, to be announced in a day or so, over the suspension issue of Additional Director General Federal Investigation Agency Zafar Ahmed...
July 25, 2011
A three-Judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Amir Hani Muslim on a suo motu case, noted in its order that despite clear instructions by the Court, the Attorney General for Pakistan could not submit reactions of the concerned authorities.
The bench also noted that Director General FIA Tahseen Hassan Shah did not appear and submit report before it as he was required to comply in pursuance of Court's directive of July 14.
A comprehensive report over stance taken by the FIA DG was also compiled by the Registrar office and submitted, it added.
The CJ told Attorney General (AG) Molvi Anwarul Haq that they would announce the verdict shortly but in a day or so.
Earlier at the outset of proceedings, the bench expressed its displeasure over the continuous absence of the DG FIA and the stance taken by his staff about his presence.
A report by the Registrar office was put before the bench during proceedings, saying that DG FIA subordinates took different stance about his presence.
The Office was told that he had left for the apex Court, later on, was informed that he would be leaving for Karachi but his cell phone was not responding, the report said.
The Chief Justice summoned secretary Establishment Division Sohail Ahmed present in the courtroom and asked him to contact him (DG FIA) after which they would pass an order.
After some time, the secretary Establishment Division apprised the bench that cell phone of DG FIA was not responding, however, he had asked his staff officer Waseem in Lahore to make contacts with him and inform him about Court's directives.
To bench's query about departmental proceedings against DG FIA for not complying with its orders, the secretary replied that he had moved a summary to the competent authority for further action but did not receive any respond so far.
Attorney General Molvi Anwarul Haq responding to another question, maintained that he had communicated Court's verbal message to the concerned authorities including the prime minister, Minister for Interior and others to file reactions over the issue.
He requested the bench to grant him some time so that he could contact them to which the bench asked him to submit it in writing.
The CJP observed that no progress had been witnessed in the case after transfer of these officers.
He said: "Law must take its course whosoever may be involved. Why are you not taking interest in recovery of your money, after all you are also tax payers of this country."
He said that a report submitted by Zafar Qureshi had admitted that an amount of 1.3 million pounds were lying in two accounts abroad and the money had travelled from NICL accounts.
He also questioned how disciplinary action was taken against Zafar Ahmed Qureshi under Efficiency and Disciplinary Rules of 1973.
He said prima facie, they could assume that their orders of July 1 was undone with suspension order of Qureshi on July 2.
He said so far the Court could not get complete picture of the four main FIRs registered in NICL case.
"The people are not realizing consequences of political interference. What will you expect from bureaucracy when you continue humiliating them. They are the real steelwork of the governments and you are supposed to protect them. They are you eyes," he observed.
The bench also directed secretary ministry of Information and Broadcasting Taimoor Azmat to submit specific report regarding persons behind running of advertisements on TV channels against judiciary.
