NICL scam probe: Supreme Court suspends transfer of FIA ADG

The Supreme Court on Friday suspended the transfer of Additional Director General (ADG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Captain Zafar Qureshi (Retd) who was lead officer of the team constituted to investigate National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) multi-billion rupees scam.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry delivered the order while resuming hearing on contempt of court case against federal secretaries Interior, Establishment and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister in connection with interference in the court orders by transferring Zafar Qureshi, who was conducting investigation of NICL scam as per the SC orders.
Former Director General (DG) FIA Malik Muhammad Iqbal had written a letter to the Secretary Interior, stating that a challan was submitted to the court in NICL case so the supervision of Zafar Qureshi in the case was no longer required. The same was sent to the Secretary Establishment with a covering letter from interior secretary. Resultantly, Qureshi is no more with the additional charge.
In addition, the SC had taken notice of the transfer and directed the DG FIA to cancel the orders upon which he told the court that a summary of Qureshi's reposting was sent to the PM. During the course of hearing, counsel for the federal secretaries Dr Babar Awan pleaded that all the three federal secretaries were directly under the PM so transfer of Zafar Qureshi was carried out in the observance of PM's directions. Hence, all the developments were in national interest.
The bench had categorically raised a question in the previous hearing about the status of the summary which was sent to PM for reposting Qureshi to probe the NICL scam one-and-a-half months ago upon which Dr Awan assured the court that he would inform it about the latest status of the summary. While exercising his powers conferred under the law, the PM rejected the summary of Qureshi's reposting in NICL scam investigation team.
He further pleaded that limitations of institutions had been defined in the Constitution of Pakistan so it would be a wrong impression that the present regime was not extending full respect to the judiciary. He added that the PM had only exercised his constitutional and legal authority in the case.
The CJP observed that the official record was witness itself that the present government turned a deaf ear to the decisions of the apex court, adding that the court was showing patience towards government despite repeated violation of its directives. He also said in his remarks that the government should realise that it doesn't seem to be serious in implementing the court decision.
The Chief Justice said that in the history of the country no officer succeeded in recovering a substantial amount in a criminal case but Zafar Qureshi had recovered Rs 1.75 billion for the exchequer, adding that it was the duty of the government to appreciate the performance of an honest officer like him because he had recovered the looted wealth.
Suspending the transfer of Additional DG FIA Zafar Qureshi, the SC directed him to assist the court in the scandal as well as to submit a report in 15 days. The court also directed that any impediment in the investigation should be avoided. The DG FIA was directed to cooperate with the reposted investigation head. The hearing was adjourned sine die.