The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday observed during the hearing of contempt case against three federal secretaries that Khushnood Lashri's reply would be important to clarify that who was responsible for transfer of Zafar Qureshi- the investigation officer of National Insurance Company Limited's (NICL) multi-billion scam.
Earlier, contempt of court notices were issued to Interior Secretary Qamar Zaman Chaudhary, Establishment Secretary Abdul Rauf Chaudhry and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Khushnood Lashari. On Thursday, of the three secretaries, Interior Secretary Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry and Establishment Secretary Abdul Rauf Chaudhry were present in the court.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Amir Hani Muslim was hearing the case. Dr Baber Awan appeared before the bench and prayed that he would submit replies on behalf of all the three secretaries, adding that PS to PM Khushnood Lashari was out of country since the SC issued the notices whereas upon his return replies would be filed.
The CJP inquired from Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Molvi Anwar-ul-Haq about the steps taken by the government to reinstate Zafar Qureshi to his previous post. AGP told the bench that he would look into the matter as directed by the court. Justice Tariq Pervaiz inquired from the AGP that why Zafar Qureshi had not been reinstated to his previous task. "In order the get free and fair investigation, you have to bring him back," he added.
The bench delayed contempt proceedings against the three federal secretaries and took up NICL recoveries matter. NICL Acting Chairman Tariq Puri, Federal Secretary of Commerce Zafar Mehmood and Director FIA Sindh Moazam Jah were present in the court.
The CJP asked Tariq Puri to assist the court that under what law Ayaz Khan Niazi was appointed in the NICL as Chairman, upon which Puri told the bench that as per Insurance Ordinance anybody, who is fit may head the NICL. The court was informed that Federal Minister Makhdom Amin Fahim's wife had deposited over Rs 40.1 millions whereas Director FIA Mohazam Jah told the bench that Rs 20 millions have been recovered during last two weeks.
The bench directed Acting Chairman NICL and Federal Secretary of Commerce to submit a detailed report on next hearing about the value of losses and recovered amount according to the audit report. However, they were asked to refer scam's cases to FIA where content of crime was found.
The CJP observed while addressing Dr Baber Awan that the court was showing restrain in the matter so if you have influence talk to concerned authorities to remove hurdles in the NICL scam so that the looted money could be recovered at the earliest. The hearing was adjourned till June 29.
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