Expressing displeasure over the performance of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in second case in a row, the Supreme Court directed its Director General (DG) to ensure safe custody of Ayaz Niazi, former Chairman National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) from Karachi to Lahore, today (Friday) since he was not quizzed despite registration of cases in Punjab.
Ayaz Niazi, had surrendered last month to the FIA. He remained at large for months despite the fact that other influential Directors and Habib Ullah Warraich, a former Minister for Defence Production, were arrested after registration of FIR on an application filed by the Commerce Ministry.
A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday directed the agency to arrest all accused in multimillion scam without sparing any 'bigwig'. "If you people cannot dare to arrest the influential, about whom everything has been published in the media, then quit your jobs," observed the Chief Justice.
Justice Ramday remarked that 'it seems you people are ganged up to protect the offenders'. Director FIA, Punjab, Zafar Ahmad Qureshi and Director FIA, Sindh, Moazam Jah submitted investigation reports of five suspicious deals, including procurement of 803 kanals of land near Ferozpur Rd Lahore.
Zafar Qureshi told the bench that recovery of Rs 1.4 billion out of Rs 1.68 billion had been made and a cheque for the balance amount had also been issued by Habibullah Warrich. According to the Director, FIA Punjab, the price of 803 kanal and 14 marlas land near Ferozepur Road Lahore was Rs 150,000 to Rs 200,000 per kanal whereas it was purchased at Rs 2.1 million per kanal. Payment of Rs 1.68 billion was made to Privileges Farms, a company of Mohsin Habib Warraich, whereas land was not transferred to the NICL. The court adjourned the hearing for January 11.