NICL scam: Despite SC orders, probe chief yet to be reinstated

Establishment Division, interior ministry have not been issued notices.

LAHORE: Despite Supreme Court’s orders to reappoint Zafar Qureshi as lead investigator in the multi-billion rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, neither the Establishment Division nor the interior ministry have issued any notification in this regard, sources familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also not ready to reinstate Qureshi, despite the passage of three days since the apex court’s verdict, sources said.

The Supreme Court on Monday had ordered Qureshi’s reinstatement as lead investigation officer in NICL cases, declaring illegal the notification suspending Qureshi from his position of additional director-general of the FIA.

The court said that obstructions were being created to hamper the investigation into the NICL scandal for political reasons.

Qureshi, who was investigating the scam involving Moonis Elahi, son of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, was suspended on July 4.

Sources added that Qureshi is due to retire on September 30, 2011 and the government, therefore, is adopting delaying tactics in reinstating him as additional DG FIA.

When Qureshi went to the FIA headquarters in Islamabad on Wednesday, August 10 to submit his rejoining report, no one paid any heed to him resuming his charge, sources added.

DG FIA Syed Tahsin Anwar Ali Shah, when contacted by The Express Tribune, said that Qureshi does not need any notification and the Supreme Court ruling in this regard is sufficient.

Whenever he returns to FIA, he will be welcomed,  said Shah.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2011.