News
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Acquittal of Moonis Elahi in NICL case
SC asks govt to explain non-filing of appeal
* Seeks AG’s opinion over transferring probe from FIA to NAB
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has expressed its dismay over the Federal Investigation Agency’s failure to file an appeal against the acquittal of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal.
The court has sought the government’s response in the case today (Tuesday) and also directed Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq to submit details regarding the foreign visit of Moonis Elahi, though his name was on the Exit Control List (ECL).
The court asked the AGP to give his opinion over the transfer of the NICL investigation from FIA to National Accountability Court (NAB).
A three member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Tariq Pervaiz and Justice Ameer Hani Muslim, also directed the former FIA additional director general Zafar Qureshi to submit his reply over the petition, filed by PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain against him.
Justice Ameer Hani Muslim questioned as to why the government had not filed an appeal against the acquittal of Moonis Elahi. Zafar Qureshi informed the bench that he had submitted supplementary challan in the court and his investigation regarding the NICL scandal could not be completed due to non-cooperation of the FIA officers. He told that Rs 420 million could not be recovered from the accused up till now.
He submitted that despite the fact that Moonis Elahi’s name was on the ECL, he was sent abroad.
Upon this, Babar Awan, counsel for Moonis Elahi, stated that the court had acquitted his client after examining 25 witnesses, adding that there should not be personal grudge against anyone.
Zafar Qureshi further told the court that he was pressurised for releasing Habibullah Warraich, however, he contended that he was committed to render his duties, assigned by this august court and to maintain rule of law.
“I did what was in the best interest of the country even endangering my life, but never compromised on principles,” Zarfar Qureshi told the court.
During the hearing, the court also took up the matter of the case pertaining to the allegations, levelled by Zafar Qureshi against Chaudhry brothers, threatening his life.
Appearing before the court, Wasim Sajjad, counsel for Chaudhry brothers, termed the allegations of Zafar Qureshi biased, saying that Zafar Qureshi has not yet filed his reply.
“Zafar Qureshi did not tell us how he has been threatened despite the fact that Chaudhry brothers had already denied the allegations levelled by Qureshi,” he said. “I need to know who is blaming my client,” Wasim Sajjad told the court. “I had a reliable source which is quite confidential and I can tell the court by some other time,” Zafar Qureshi informed the court. “Nothing is confidential from the court and you can tell us in chamber,” the chief justice told Zafar Qureshi.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk