NICL land scam: SC gives FIA directors two days to recover money

Qureshi expresses willingness for out-of-court settlement for alleged death threats.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has given till Thursday to two directors of the Federal Investigation Agency to recover Rs21 million from main accused Chaudhry Moonis Elahi or reimburse the money to avoid impending imprisonment.

The two directors, Waqar Haider and Zulfiqar Ali, face jail terms for de-freezing Moonis’ bank accounts before he was acquitted in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) case by a banking court. Former additional director-general and lead investigator of the scam Zafar Qureshi had frozen the accounts after Moonis’ arrest.

The CJ remarked that the court’s orders were flouted the whole time after Ali had briefed the three-member special bench. According to Qureshi’s report, an account opened in the name of Al-Tahur Company was credited with Rs18.3 million, while another titled Agro Tractor contained Rs1.8 million. Moonis emptied the accounts after Qureshi was disassociated from the case. “You are both accountable for misconduct, your fate will be decided later,” the CJ said to the directors.

The CJ asked FIA Legal Director Azam Khan if the FIA had shared particulars of the NICL scam with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).  “We are taking NAB on board now,” the CJ said, while Khan remained speechless.

A day earlier the court had asked for legal opinion regarding the transfer of the case to NAB. Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Anwarul Haq told the court that Justice (retd) Ghulam Rabbani was investigating political interference in the case. He had collected evidence but was unable to finish the inquiry after his retirement. The court passed an order stating that Rabbani complete the inquiry and submit a report within a month.

Wasim Sajjad, counsel for the Chaudhry family, and Moonis’ counsel Dr Babar Awan informed the court that the issue of allegations of death threats against the former investigator will be amicably settled with Qureshi. When Qureshi expressed his willingness for an out-of-court settlement, the CJ asked him not to file a reply till the issue is resolved.

As Iftikhar Gillani approached the bench in defence of FIA D-G Tehseen Anwar Shah, the CJ remarked that he had not implemented the court’s orders. Gillani contended that if the allegations against his client were proved, he will disassociate himself from the case. The CJP handed him a document detailing non-compliance with the court’s orders. Gillani has sought time to file a reply.

The bench directed FIA DG to pay Qureshi out-of-station allowances till the conclusion of the case. Later, the court adjourned the hearing till November 24.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2011.