ISLAMABAD: It is a message for everyone that the court will not compromise on corruption cases, the Chief Justice on Monday remarked during the course of hearing of the National Insurance Corporation (NICL) land scam case.
The apex court gave the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a 72-hour deadline to arrest all the accused in the (NICL) scam and summoned the interior secretary on Tuesday.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary heard a suo motu case regarding the alleged violation of rules by former NICL chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi in the procurement of land on exorbitant prices causing great loss to the national exchequer.
“The culprits should be arrested and the culture of protecting the influential should end,” remarked the Chief Justice.
Deputy Director FIA, Basharat Shahzad informed the bench that the manger of Al-Tahoor Company Muhammad Malik had been arrested for his involvement in the case.
Malik opened a fake bank account in Adil Manzur’s name. During interrogation he revealed that Moonis Elahi and Rasikh Elahi are both directors of the company. Malik withdrew Rs220 million which he passed on to Moonis Elahi.
“Whosoever is involved in this case must be arrested to ensure that the country’s wealth is brought back,” the Chief Justice observed. “The scam should be thoroughly investigated.”
Director Legal, FIA Azam Khan said that the national exchequer was deprived of Rs5 billon upon which the Chief Justice corrected him, saying it was Rs 18 billion.
The chief justice asked him why the previous investigation officer was changed. “Bring him back or we will issue a directive in this regard.”
The investigation officer, Shahzad informed the bench that red notices have been issued for the extradition of Mohsin Habibullah Waraich from Britain.
Secretary Commerce Zafar Mahmood informed the court that the Security and Exchange Commission has been delegated the authority for carrying out departmental audits. Since the commerce ministry is not in a position to supervise, he has no knowledge of the Auditor General’s report.
“The commerce ministry is a plaintiff in this case and it should be more interested. If you are facing any problem, let us know,” the Chief Justice remarked.
The court summoned Interior Secretary Chaudhry Qamaruz Zaman to explain why the former investigation officer had been replaced. He submitted that the court order would be implemented.
The chief justice directed FIA officials to arrest all the accused. Ayaz Khan Niazi is the only one to have been arrested so far.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case till today.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2011.
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