FIA DG resigns over NICL probe

ISLAMABAD:-

                            FIA Director General Tehsin Anwar Shah submitted his resignation to establishment secretary on Wednesday, after he presented the same in the Supreme Court and was told by the court to tender it to the authorities concerned.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general told a three-member bench hearing the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam case on Wednesday that he could not work under a junior. Tehseen said: “I am head of FIA, therefore, cannot work under Zafar Qureshi and tender my resignation as this is also against the FIA Act 1975.” The chief justice said to the DG, “Don’t give this kind of threats and submit your resignation before the competent authority.”

The chief justice also directed Zafar Qureshi’s team members Deputy Director Javed Hussain Shah, Assistant Director Mohammad Ahmed, Assistant Director Khalid Anees and Inspector Muhammad Sarwar to work under Qureshi with same vigour and honesty and if they feel pressure from any quarter, inform him (CJP) in his chamber. The chief justice directed the team members, who expressed willingness to continue the investigation, to complete the investigation soon, adding the investigation in the NICL case would continue even after the retirement of Zafar Qureshi.

During the course of proceedings, Justice Amir Hani Muslim put a question to FIA Lahore Director Waqar Haider, “Who had ordered to lock up the gate on August 13?” He replied that on that day he was in Islamabad for an official meeting but when he came to know about the incident he directed the officials at the FIA camp office Lahore to immediately call the bomb disposal squad and inform the police. The honourable judges further inquired from Waqar Haider, “Why did you not hand over the NICL case files to Zafar Qureshi earlier.” The director stated that the files were with FIA Lahore Deputy Director Basharat Shahzad, who had gone to Umrah. However, the DG FIA handed over the NICL case files to Zafar Qureshi before the bench.

Justice Amir Hani asked the director, “By telling a lie you are aggravating the contempt charges against you.” He inquired from the FIA director where the prisoners locked up at the FIA camp office were shifted on August 13. Justice Hani further questioned, “Was the record of prisoners on that specific day maintained and where they were shifted?”

FIA Assistant Director Khawaja Hammad appearing before the bench informed that on Friday (August 12) Director Waqar Haider came to his office and said that he was under pressure, therefore, adopted such a plan that Zafar Qureshi could not enter the building. Hammad said as he had a close relationship with Zafar Qureshi, therefore, he had informed him on telephone on August 12 at night that there would be some drama at the Camp Office to prevent him from entering the building. He also said a similar incident had happened when Moonis Elahi was brought at the trial court.

The chief justice directed Hammad to prepare his statement during the course of the day and submit a copy of it at the SC Registrar office and give one copy to Waqar Haider so that he could file his reply in the next date of hearing.

Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq placed on record the copy of FIR registered at the Civil Lines Police Station, Lahore, regarding a hoax call on August 12. The court directed the PPO Punjab to ensure independent investigation of it and submit its report at the SC Registrar office.

The court has deferred the contempt of court proceedings against those FIA officers who had defied August 8, 2011 SC order. The DG FIA and others relevant authorities were directed in the judgment not to create hindrance in the investigation being conducted by Zafar Qureshi and his team. The case was adjourned for an indefinite period of time.