The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Federal Investigation Agency to reverse transfer orders of four officials who were assisting National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) land scam investigation officer Zafar Ahmed Qureshi. The court also passed orders to stop departmental inquiry against Zafar Qureshi till the verdict of the case by the court.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain was hearing suo motu case regarding violation of Public Procurement Rules, 2004 in procurement loss of billions of rupees to the exchequer caused by NICL. Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq and Captain Zafar Ahmed Qureshi (Retd), Additional DG FIA appeared before the bench.
The bench observed, "Prima facie, we are of the opinion that a person who stood for rule of law and has been performing his duties with commitment and dedication in compliance with the directions of the court is being punished just for doing the right job." During the course of hearing, the bench also cited news items in connection with suspension of Zafar Ahmed Qureshi that indicated that perhaps on some political intervention, action against Qureshi has been taken and he was placed under suspension.
Referring to the news in this context, the CJP observed that there were also serious allegations against the interior minister to the effect that he had summoned the officer and, according to reports in the newspapers, had given him four options which allegedly include; leave the country immediately, go on a long leave, tell the SC in writing that he cannot continue with NICL investigation for personal reasons or if all the three were not possible then bail out Monis Elahi.
The bench directed the AGP to ask the FIA to reverse orders of the four FIA officials to continue investigation in NICL land scam, adding that it was grave and serious matter and has its own repercussions and that the court, otherwise, would be appointing some retired judge of the SC or of the High Court for probe into the matter, record evidence and thereafter give findings. The AGP sought some time for instructions from the relevant desk upon which the court adjourned the hearing till July 13.