MONDAY APRIL 04: FIA seeks registration of criminal case: NICL chief

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has recommended to the Supreme Court to register a 'criminal case' against Tariq Iqbal Puri, officiating Chairman of National Insurance Company Ltd. (NICL), saying that his unwarranted delay in submission of evaluation report to the FIA had not only hampered the investigation but had also complicated the matter.
"...It is recommended that a criminal case may be registered against Tariq Iqbal Puri, Officiating Chairman, NICL, under the relevant section of law," recommended a report, available with the Business Recorder, submitted by FIA to the apex court.
The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice against violation of Public Procurement Rules, 2004 by National Insurance Company Ltd. (NICL) in the purchase of land at highly inflated rates causing billions of rupees loss to the national exchequer.
The court had entrusted the assignment of investigation into the multi-billion rupees scam that involve some bigwigs of the country including the son of former Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, to the FIA.
Zafar Ahmed Qureshi, Additional Director-General, FIA, the man conducting investigation, had told the court that his life was in danger. However, his apprehensions were addressed by Shujaat Hussain.
Qureshi did mention the apprehensions in the report submitted to the court, saying: "After my retirement, I would be at the mercy of politicians against whom I had proceeded in performance of my official duties."
The FIA in its report said it had found the conduct of NICL management dubious and non-cooperative to the extent of not timely provision of the report.
"From the perusal of record and statements recorded, it is evident that Nespak submitted the evaluation report to NICL on 09-02-2001 whereas Officiating Chairman forwarded the same to FIA on 04-03-2011 and that too only after the same was received by FIA from Nespak directly," the report said.
"The officiating Chairman, NICL, miserably failed to provide any plausible justification for the unnecessary delay in submission of the re-evaluation report submitted by Nespak despite repeated requests by FIA dated 15-02-2011, 19-02-2011, 22-02-2011 and 28-02-2011 but Chairman, NICL, responded only once on 01-03-2011 that they have not yet received the 'original' Nespak report. During the course of probe it has been established that Tariq Iqbal Puri, officiating Chairman, NICL, deliberately delayed the submission of Nespak report to FIA with mala fide intentions. His unwarranted action of delay in submission of report not only hampered the recovery process but also complicated the matter. The act of the officiating chairman, NICL, prima facie attract action under section 201, 204 PPC read with 5(2) 47 PCA," the report added.