NICL scam: PPP govt tried to hamper probe, says ex-FIA official
Blames ex-PM, others for trying to hamper investigations.
Former FIA additional director general Zafar Qureshi has accused the PPP government machinery of trying to influence the investigations into the NICL scam. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Former FIA additional director general Zafar Qureshi has accused the PPP government machinery of trying to influence the investigations into the NICL scam.
Qureshi told The Express Tribune that former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, former interior minister Rehman Malik and former law minister Babar Awan tried to influence the investigations of the National Insurance Company Limited scam, involving purchase of real estate on inflated rates.
According to Qureshi, Rehman Malik had asked him to leave the country on the pretext of performing Umrah or instead, to submit a statement in the Supreme Court that the former did not want to continue the investigations into the scam.
The former interior minister did all this to gain favour of Moonis Elahi, who is the son of former Punjab CM Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q.
The newly appointed NAB chief, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, who was the then interior secretary, was the only person in the whole government machinery who helped Qureshi do his job lawfully and resist the government pressure, according to the former FIA additional DG.
He said Qamar Zaman was a major source of inspiration and support in the investigation into the matter.
Qureshi was also grateful to Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The chief justice protected him to do his rightful duty, says Qureshi.
Qureshi also claimed that Rehman Malik directed the then FIA director general to submit a report saying that the investigations were complete. The FIA DG complied with the ex-minister’s orders and transferred Qureshi on the pretext that the case investigations were complete.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2013.
Former FIA additional director general Zafar Qureshi has accused the PPP government machinery of trying to influence the investigations into the NICL scam.
Qureshi told The Express Tribune that former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, former interior minister Rehman Malik and former law minister Babar Awan tried to influence the investigations of the National Insurance Company Limited scam, involving purchase of real estate on inflated rates.
According to Qureshi, Rehman Malik had asked him to leave the country on the pretext of performing Umrah or instead, to submit a statement in the Supreme Court that the former did not want to continue the investigations into the scam.
The former interior minister did all this to gain favour of Moonis Elahi, who is the son of former Punjab CM Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q.
The newly appointed NAB chief, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, who was the then interior secretary, was the only person in the whole government machinery who helped Qureshi do his job lawfully and resist the government pressure, according to the former FIA additional DG.
He said Qamar Zaman was a major source of inspiration and support in the investigation into the matter.
Qureshi was also grateful to Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The chief justice protected him to do his rightful duty, says Qureshi.
Qureshi also claimed that Rehman Malik directed the then FIA director general to submit a report saying that the investigations were complete. The FIA DG complied with the ex-minister’s orders and transferred Qureshi on the pretext that the case investigations were complete.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2013.