ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday annulled the suspension orders of Additional Director General (DG) FIA Zafar Qureshi, and reinstated him as the head of the NICL scam probe.
Qureshi was tasked to investigate the multi-billion rupee land scam in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, delivered the verdict and added that the government was meddling in the affairs of the judiciary.
The CJP directed Justice Ghulam Rabbani to conduct a proble into the allegations of government interference in the case. He will also look into the media campaign against the judiciary, the CJ said, referring to an ad run by various TV channels.
The verdict delivered today (Monday) revolves around the suspension of Qureshi who was probing the scam. The NICL scam case verdict itself is currently pending.
The CJP delivered the verdict and said that there has been political interference in the affairs of the judiciary. He was referring to the transfer of Qureshi. Qureshi had linked Mr Moonis Elahi’s involvement with funds that were misappropriated in the scam.
Qureshi was then transferred from the assignment by the government, a move that proved to be a major source of friction between the executive and the judiciary.
Later, charges were brought against him and he was subsequently suspended by the government.
The SC had been ordering the government to comply with the court order to bring Qureshi back to head the investigation, but the government failed to comply.
Govt’s response not submitted
The court had earlier ordered the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) to submit a written statement regarding the prime minister and the interior minister’s response to Qureshi’s suspension but it was not submitted.
Appearing on court’s notice, AGP Maulvi Anwarul Haq on July 25 had requested the court to grant some more time for submitting the prime minister’s response on why Qureshi was suspended and not reinstated despite the court orders. The court, however, rejected his request, noting that sufficient time had already been granted.
Earlier, the apex court, on July 1, had ordered suspension of the notification of transfer of Qureshi, ordering him to continue investigation into the NICL scam.
Qureshi was tasked to investigate the multi-billion rupee land scam in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, delivered the verdict and added that the government was meddling in the affairs of the judiciary.
The CJP directed Justice Ghulam Rabbani to conduct a proble into the allegations of government interference in the case. He will also look into the media campaign against the judiciary, the CJ said, referring to an ad run by various TV channels.
The verdict delivered today (Monday) revolves around the suspension of Qureshi who was probing the scam. The NICL scam case verdict itself is currently pending.
The CJP delivered the verdict and said that there has been political interference in the affairs of the judiciary. He was referring to the transfer of Qureshi. Qureshi had linked Mr Moonis Elahi’s involvement with funds that were misappropriated in the scam.
Qureshi was then transferred from the assignment by the government, a move that proved to be a major source of friction between the executive and the judiciary.
Later, charges were brought against him and he was subsequently suspended by the government.
The SC had been ordering the government to comply with the court order to bring Qureshi back to head the investigation, but the government failed to comply.
Govt’s response not submitted
The court had earlier ordered the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) to submit a written statement regarding the prime minister and the interior minister’s response to Qureshi’s suspension but it was not submitted.
Appearing on court’s notice, AGP Maulvi Anwarul Haq on July 25 had requested the court to grant some more time for submitting the prime minister’s response on why Qureshi was suspended and not reinstated despite the court orders. The court, however, rejected his request, noting that sufficient time had already been granted.
Earlier, the apex court, on July 1, had ordered suspension of the notification of transfer of Qureshi, ordering him to continue investigation into the NICL scam.