Breach of privilege: Hajj probe chief refuses to answer NA panel
The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Special Investigation Unit Director Hussain Asghar, probing the Hajj corruption case against former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani and his son Abdul Qadir Gilani refused to answer any questions from the National Assembly’s privilege committee on Monday.
During the in-camera meeting, Asghar said that the NA panel lacked the mandate to question him and that he was answerable only to the Supreme Court.
“I am not bound to answer any questions by the committee as I was appointed an investigating officer on court orders and would only answer to the court,” a source quoted Asghar as saying.
The NA panel is probing the alleged breach of privilege of MNA Qadir Gilani by Asghar through the issuance of notices to the former and his family in connection with the Hajj scandal.
The committee chairperson, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, asked Asghar to explain why he had issued notices to Qadir Gilani about allegedly accepting a bullet-proof vehicle as a bribe from former director general Hajj, Rao Shakil, while the issue had already been settled after the PML-N MPA Imran Shah retracted his allegation against Qadir Gilani.
At least two members of the committee, MNA Nadeem Afzal Chan and MNA Qadir Gilani, accused Asghar of being biased in the investigation saying, “he was trying to settle personal scores with Gilani family.”
Both Chan and Qadir Gilani said that Asghar was suspended multiple times during former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s term in office.
“For all these suspensions, Asghar is now deliberately targeting the Gilani family,” said Chan, However, the FIA officer made no attempt at clarifying his position and contended that he was not answerable to the committee.
Asghar, who was a senior FIA director at the time, was removed because his probe into the Haj scam was allegedly leading him to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
On the recommendations of committee members, the chairperson asked the interior ministry secretary to present the record of Asghar’s suspensions and subsequent transfers made during Gilani’s term in the next meeting.
The privilege committee adjourned to meet again on Wednesday and is likely to recommend action against Asghar after verifying the allegations levelled by Qadir Gilani and other members from his party.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1730379446-0/WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-31-at-17-56-13-(1)1730379446-0-270x192.webp "pia plans fleet expansion to revamp flight operations")
It is against established norms and law to interfere with investigation process. Even courts let the investigators complete their work unhindered. When an FIR is registered and investigation process starts, it becomes court's property, aka, sub judice matter. Rule of law should prevail in the country.
Privilege committee for what? saving the culprits?..we need more people like respectable Hussain Asghar to eradicate the corrupts from any government.