NICL scam: Impatient FIA chief in SC’s crosshairs again

CJ orders DG FIA to appear today.

ISLAMABAD:

Chief Justice (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary reprimanded Director General (DG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Malik Iqbal for leaving the court room before the commencement of the contempt of court case against him.

When the case came up for hearing before a three-member bench headed by the chief justice, the CJP asked about the DG FIA. “How dare he leave?” he asked when he was informed that the DG FIA had left.

The chief justice directed Attorney General Pakistan (AGP) Maulvi Anwarul Haq to ask DG FIA to appear before the court along with his counsel on Friday morning. According to the cause list, the NICL case was fixed for hearing on Thursday. Since most of the time was taken up with other important cases, the CJP suggested the NICL case be postponed till next week.

DG FIA left the court as soon as he heard the case might not be taken up.

The chief justice asked the AGP about the reappointment of Zafar Qureshi in FIA as lead investigator of the NICL scam. The AGP submitted that he is unable to assist the court on this question as the court has already adjourned the case till June 8. The CJP reprimanded him as well for replying he would inform the court on the next date of hearing.

The court adjourned the hearing till Friday.





Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2011.