Supreme Court tells FIA to complete Hajj scam probe in a week's time

Expressing dissatisfaction over Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) report on Hajj scandal, Supreme Court on Friday directed the agency to complete the probe within a week besides ordering investigation against the officers who dissociated themselves from the case.
The FIA officials told a six-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry that two FIA officers - Hussain Asghar and Javed Ali Shah refused to be part of the investigation. The Chief Justice observed that the inquiry seems to be stalled due to involvement of some influential people in the scandal. He said that the court knew that DG FIA was involved in criminal cases. The bench also ordered for a separate inquiry on dissociation of two FIA officers.
The agency is probing millions of rupees embezzlement during Hajj arrangements last year, the crossfire over which provoked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani into axing two of his ministers. The court was also informed that 27 officers who were reemployed after reaching the age of superannuation had been shown the door with the approval of prime minister and on the recommendations of a high powered committee.
Abdul Hafeez Pirzada apprised the bench that the officers had been working in different departments and in pursuance of recommendations of the committee, constituted by the prime minister, their contracts were terminated. To a bench query, he said that the government had also decided not to further extend contract period of those employees whose services would expire in near future.
The bench also sought a detailed report explaining why secretary Establishment Division was bent on retaining some officers including four secretaries belonging to ministries of law, human rights, defence and defence production. Abdul Rauf Chaudhry, secretary Establishment Division said that appointment of law secretary was made under relevant provision while contract period of human rights secretary would expire in June, secretary defence and defence production in July while additional secretary's in November.
Advocate general Balochistan, Amanullah Kanrani, apprised the bench that no one was hired on contract except officers like Riaz Ahmed, Dr Saleem and Sahib Jan but they were reemployed by the federation. He said they had written letters to concerned ministries.
The bench directed Attorney General for Pakistan, Molvi Anwarul Haq, to ask the relevant authorities to submit report by next date of hearing showing whether contract employees in National Assembly, provincial assemblies and Senate secretariat fall under the category of civil servants as they are constitutional bodies. The hearing was adjourned till April 29.