Record tampering: Hijazi to be indicted on Oct 4
Special judge fixes the date for the framing of charges after providing copies of case documents
SECP Chairman Zafar Hijazi
ISLAMABAD:
A special court will indict Zafarul Haq Hijazi, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), on October 4 in a record tampering case.
The acting Special Judge, Central, Iram Niazi, on Tuesday fixed the date for the framing of charges after providing copies of the case documents to Hijazi who is standing trial for allegedly tampering with the record of the Sharif family’s companies.
The joint investigation team formed during the Panamagate case had alleged in its report that Hijazi had altered records related to a previous inquiry.
FIA finds SECP chief guilty of tampering with record of Sharifs’ companies
Judge Niazi, who recently granted bail to Hijazi, had noted in her order that “it has yet to be ascertained if Hijazi pressurised his subordinates, or closure of the record in back dates was made with consensus by all of them”.
However, the judge said, a tentative look at the evidence showed that the closure note in back date was made after meetings and discussions among SECP officials Maheen Fatima, Tariq Ahmed, Ali Azeem, Tahir Mahmood and Abid Hussain, “as these persons also signed the same likewise applicant”.
Other than the statements of the officers who had signed the note, “independent corroborated piece of evidence is needed,” she said.
Separately, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the Islamabad High Court recently issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) on Hijazi’s petition requesting that the FIR against him be quashed.
SECP commissioner gives statement in record tampering case
His counsel argued in the petition that the allegations levelled against Hijazi were false, alleging that the officials had themselves tampered with the record and accused him of pressuring them to do so.
The FIR (13/17) was lodged against Hijazi under Sections 466 and 471 of Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 on July 10. He was arrested on July 21, remained in physical custody till July 29 and in judicial custody till August 8 before being released on bail.
A special court will indict Zafarul Haq Hijazi, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), on October 4 in a record tampering case.
The acting Special Judge, Central, Iram Niazi, on Tuesday fixed the date for the framing of charges after providing copies of the case documents to Hijazi who is standing trial for allegedly tampering with the record of the Sharif family’s companies.
The joint investigation team formed during the Panamagate case had alleged in its report that Hijazi had altered records related to a previous inquiry.
FIA finds SECP chief guilty of tampering with record of Sharifs’ companies
Judge Niazi, who recently granted bail to Hijazi, had noted in her order that “it has yet to be ascertained if Hijazi pressurised his subordinates, or closure of the record in back dates was made with consensus by all of them”.
However, the judge said, a tentative look at the evidence showed that the closure note in back date was made after meetings and discussions among SECP officials Maheen Fatima, Tariq Ahmed, Ali Azeem, Tahir Mahmood and Abid Hussain, “as these persons also signed the same likewise applicant”.
Other than the statements of the officers who had signed the note, “independent corroborated piece of evidence is needed,” she said.
Separately, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the Islamabad High Court recently issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) on Hijazi’s petition requesting that the FIR against him be quashed.
SECP commissioner gives statement in record tampering case
His counsel argued in the petition that the allegations levelled against Hijazi were false, alleging that the officials had themselves tampered with the record and accused him of pressuring them to do so.
The FIR (13/17) was lodged against Hijazi under Sections 466 and 471 of Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 on July 10. He was arrested on July 21, remained in physical custody till July 29 and in judicial custody till August 8 before being released on bail.