News
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Rs 7 billion chemical import scandalSC issues notice to PM Gilani’s son
* Court revokes transfer of ANF Regional Director Brig Faheem
* Directs govt not to transfer any officer without court’s permission
* Brig Faheem accuses prime minister’s principal secretary of trying to hush up the matter
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Hearing the case of Rs 7 billion chemical import scandal, the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued notices to prime minister’s son, Ali Musa Gilani, and PM’s Principal Secretary Khushnood Akhtar Lashari.
The court also cancelled recent transfers and postings in the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), and ordered that all transferred ANF officials be reinstated to their previous positions of March 6.
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing a petition by ANF Regional Director Brig Faheem about transfers made in the ANF.
The court directed the government not to transfer any officer without its permission. It also directed Brigadier Faheem to assume charge of his office and go ahead with the investigation into the case “without any pressure”.
The court also issued notices to acting Narcotics Control Secretary Zafar Abbas, the health secretary, attorney general, former ANF DG Shakeel Hussain and directors of two pharmaceutical companies.
The court said that a fair trial be accorded if anyone wanted to record statement on behalf of Musa Gilani or Lashari.
Brig Faheem submitted a written affidavit about his meeting with Lashari.
According to the affidavit, after the registration of an FIR in the case, a notice was issued to Lashari for recording his statement. Brig Faheem accused Lashari of influencing investigation into the scandal.
“... I had a separate meeting with him [Lashari] in his office where he discussed/conveyed the following to me in a maligning and threatening manner, because he being one of the prime (abettor/associate/facilitator) in the case wanted to make full use of his present appointment/office to suppress/distort/misdirect investigation against himself and Ali Musa Gilani,” the brigadier said in the affidavit.
“Lashari said father of Ali Musa Gillani is very upset and worried due to the summon issued to him. He said that if ANF focuses on two pharmaceutical companies only and spare others, ANF will be fully supported; both companies will be ruined and state machinery will be with you,” the affidavit said.
“He said that all depends on you (Brigadier Fahim) you can only save from chaos and upheavals... He further said in a sarcastic manner and meaningful expression that ANF is being commanded and controlled by army officers... He asked to spare Ali Musa Gillani,” said Brig Faheem in the affidavit.
After that several attempts were made to change the direction of the investigation, he added.
Brig Faheem also said that Lashari approved the import quota of prohibited chemicals while he was health secretary “and now Musa Gilani is protecting his secretary Tauqeer and creating hindrance in the fair investigation”.
The chief justice asked, “Why the secretary is taking so much interest in the case? Whether any influential political personality is involved in the matter?”
The case was adjourned until April 20.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk