Hajj scam: Hussain Asghar will report to FIA soon, SC told

Attorney general says notification issued regarding Asghar's transfer, CJ appreciates move.


Azam Khan June 08, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was informed on Friday that the federal government has issued a notification regarding reinstatement of Inspector General (IG) Police Gilgit-Baltistan Hussain Asghar in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for probing the Hajj scam.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is hearing a suo motu case of corruption by officials during the 2010 Hajj.

During the hearing on Friday, Attorney General Irfan Qadir told the bench that the government has issued a notification regarding the transfer of Asghar to FIA and he would report back soon.

The chief justice, appreciating Qadir, said that he was becoming a strong attorney general as his predecessor could not bring back Asghar. With consultation of the attorney general, the court adjourned the hearing till June 20, so that Asghar has time to report back to the FIA.

Khushnood Lashari, who also holds the office of establishment secretary, informed the court on June 5, that they had proposed a panel comprising three people to the chief minister Gilgit-Baltistan for the post of IG Police. But, he added, that the chief minister was unwilling to release Asghar due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the area and the sectarian violence that has gripped the region.

The court had rejected Lashari’s statements and had subsequently directed him to suspend a notification for Asghar as the Inspector General of Police Gilgit-Baltistan, and warned that if he does not report back to the FIA Headquarters within three days, action will be taken against him.

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