DC apologises for not entertaining complaint. PHOTO: FILE
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday expressed annoyance with the Islamabad administration for failing to arrest a magistrate involved in land fraud case.
While hearing a Rs1.5 million land fraud case, IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui expressed displeasure over the performance of Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amir Ali Ahmed, who failed to arrest a subordinate, Farrukh Nadeem.
“Despite the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Nadeem, how is he still enjoying his powers as a magistrate? ‘’ the judge asked.
Previously, the court had asked FIA Director Hazrat Ali and the Islamabad administration to take action against the culprits in the case.
According to the case registered with the FIA, in 1991 Asif Javed sold five kanals of land to Walayat Khan Abbasi in Mora Noor, a suburb of Islamabad. However, the complainant alleged that instead of transferring the land in the name of buyer, the former withheld the documentation in connivance with Nadeem, then a tehsildar, after bribing him with Rs1.5 million.
The DC claimed that the accused was not a part of the internal investigation conducted by the chief commissioner, although, he remains a suspect. He informed the court that Nadeem later got bail from the Lahore High Court (LHC), which expires on September 20. “I admit my mistake of not entertain the complainant’s application in writing when he approached us,’’ he said.
The court directed him to arrest the magistrate and submit a detailed report on September 20.
During the course of hearing, FIA officer claimed that DG FIA had also charge-sheeted the employees involved in the case but the court observed that FIA had facilitated the accused who had later obtained transitory bail from LHC.
Police pickets
In a separate case, the IHC issued notices to the top officials of Islamabad administration regarding a petition filed by a lawyer seeking removal of illegal barricades from the city.
Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan issued notices to the inspector general of police, the chief commissioner and the Capital Development Authority chairman seeking their responses to the petition.
The complainant, Waqas Malik, maintained that capital police have placed more than 60 barriers in different parts of the city which are badly affecting traffic in the city, adding that there is no need to establish check posts within the city and they should only exist at the exit and entrance points.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2013.
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