News
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Govt seems determined to disobey court orders: SC
* Court directs govt to sack FIA DG in three days
* Says investigation into alleged corruption in Hajj affairs being delayed deliberately to protect the accused
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction over the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) report on mismanagement and corruption in Hajj affairs, and remarked that the government seemed to be determined in disobeying the court’s orders.
The apex court directed the government to remove FIA Director General, Waseem Ahmed, and submit a report to the court’s registrar office within three days. The court also ordered the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and other departments concerned to cooperate with the FIA in the investigation of the case.
A six-member apex court bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, has been hearing a suo motu case of the irregularities in Hajj arrangements last year.
The court noted that MNA Imran Ali Shah had framed Qadir Gilani, son of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, because when he was asked to furnish evidence to substantiate his allegation, he could not do so.
Shah had alleged that Qadir Gilani had purchased a bulletproof vehicle from the misappropriated amount of the Hajj affairs through his friend Zain Iftikhar Sukhera in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The court held that Shah must not have made claims on the basis of a false allegation.
The FIA additional director general (ADG), the court said, might look into the matter and proceed against Shah for making a false accusation.
The apex court asked FIA ADG Javed Ali Bukhari about the progress made in the case and the total amount present on the bank accounts of former minister for religious affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, and other accused persons. But Bukhari had no satisfactory reply to the court query.
Upon this, Justice Fayyaz Ahmad said that no headway indicated that the investigation was being delayed deliberately to protect the accused.
The court, however, appreciated the task completed by the Religious Affairs secretary for compensating 99 percent of the affected pilgrims. Further hearing was adjourned for two weeks.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk