Court gives govt three days to axe FIA chief

Apex court rejects FIA report on the Hajj scam, says DG FIA not allowing transparent investigation.


Qaiser Zulfiqar March 02, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the government to axe Director-General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Wasim Ahmad by Friday.

Counsel for the federation Hafeez Pirzada informed the six-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry that the prime minister has approved the committee’s recommendations for terminating the services of contractual officials. Nine contractual officials have been sacked as of now, he informed the bench hearing a suo motu case of embezzlement in Hajj arrangements last year.

The court observed that appointments on contract shall not be allowed to continue in pursuance of section 14 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973, unless all the conditions specified are satisfied. The government is apparently not interested in implementing the court’s directive considering 110 officials are still deputed on important posts.

“Secretary Defence and DG FIA are still working on contract, despite the fact that the DG botched up the investigation of the Hajj scam,” the Chief Justice remarked. “As long as he remains, no progress is to be expected in the case. If he is considered a competent officer, the government may appoint him on another post.”

The bench remarked that there is no indication of any headway in the investigation report presented by Additional Director General FIA, Javed Bukhari. He was asked how much money has been traced to ex-minister Hamid Kazmi’s bank accounts. The chief justice also questioned him on the progress made in the investigation. “It seems that hurdles are deliberately being created in the investigation to protect the accused,” remarked Justice Raja Fayyaz. Bukhari informed the court that there has been no attempt to influence the outcome of the investigation. The court ordered the FIA to submit a daily report in the chamber of Justice Raja Fayyaz.

The court adjourned the case for two weeks and directed the federation to submit a report on the DG FIA’s sacking within three days.

Earlier on January 11, the Supreme Court had asked the government to consider disassociating Ahmad from the inquiry into the mismanagement and corruption in Hajj arrangements.

Wasim Ahmad has also been accused of providing protection to Amin Qasim Dada, a member of the board of directors of the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) who is accused of embezzlement in land acquired by NICL. Ahmed, however, dismissed the allegation.

Moreover, the apex court had unequivocally directed the government to terminate the services of DG FIA as well as other senior officers in the police and the FIA. The chief justice appreciated Abdul Qadir Gilani, the PM’s son for appearing before the investigation team and directed the FIA to initiate proceedings against Imran Shah, Member National Assembly, for slandering Qadir Gilani. He also reprimanded former minister Azam Swati for his failure to provide incriminating evidence against former minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi in the Hajj scam.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (16)

Faraz | 13 years ago | Reply @ sashayub Dude in case you didnt notice justice ramday stands retired as off 18th Feb. and is no longer on the bench. The motion to appoint him again as an adhoc judge was not put forward in the Judicial Commission. But why bother with facts when we get to bash others right?
Wowem | 13 years ago | Reply Well done Mr.Superman CJ...flying with your magic cape whereever there is trouble. I think we need you to now takeover rural education, public health, law and order, overpricing by any cartel, drooped mobile calls, traffic in our cities, cricket, hockey, squash, family planning, bleeding public sector entities and millions of such disasters. I will gladly put up your banners and billboards in every chowk in Pakistan taakay bacha bacha hamaaray Super CJ ka ashoq bunn jaye!
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