The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest the main culprits in National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, including former NICL chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi and Mohsin Warraich without any delay.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, heard a suo motu case regarding the alleged violation of rules by NICL chairman in the procurement of land on highly enhanced rates, causing a huge financial loss to the national exchequer.
During the course of hearing, DG FIA apprised the court that Habibullah Warraich had been arrested by the agency while Interpol had issued a red warrant for the arrest of his son Mohsin Warraich. He also informed the court that the FIA had placed Niazi's name on exit control list (ECL) while efforts were being made for his arrest. After hearing the arguments, Justice Chaudhry remarked that the main culprit in the scam had still not been arrested and the court would not tolerate corruption as public money had been looted in the scam.
The Chief Justice also reprimanded secretary commerce for not co-operating in the case and directed him to extend full co-operation to FIA. According to unconfirmed reports, secretary commerce, had been delaying the arrest of former NIC chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi.
The non-arrest of Ayaz Niazi (the main accused in the scam), would give an impression that the accused evaded his arrest on being influential, the Chief Justice said, adding that so that accused must be taken to task.
Meanwhile, FIA officials expressed fear that Niazi could be hiding out in comfort at the residence of one of the top leaders in the capital. However, FIA Director Zafar Qureshi assured the apex court that he would recover the entire amount of embezzled money and "bring everyone to book".
Out of 13 accused involved in these scams, nine had been arrested by FIA and three, including Mohsin Warrich, had been declared absconders, while Niazi's property has been confiscated. Mohsin Warraich has been accused of transferring millions of rupees that he is alleged to have made by defrauding NICL to the bank account of his spouse. Later, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the case for three weeks.
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