ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take action against the accused involved in over Rs 22 billion corruption in Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). A three-member Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing the case of massive corruption in PSM. The court also directed the industries secretary to continue supervising the investigations. During the hearing, the chief justice asked FIA who would catch the “big fish” involved in the scam.
Appearing on notice, FIA Karachi Director Moazzam Jah submitted a report before the court.
After examining the report, the court said it was merely paper work. The chief justice asked Jah about the pressure on former FIA director general Waseem Ahmad that barred him from catching the big fish. “Why are you still so helpless?” the chief justice asked Jah, adding that no one was above the law. He said it would not be in favour of FIA if the court transfer the inquiry of the case to another agency. Reprimanding the FIA official, the chief justice noted that there was no mention about Riaz Lal Gee and Abbas Group in the report.
He said investigation in the PSM case was initiated on court’s order when it had taken notice in 2007. “Why have you not started investigating from the point where the corruption started?” the chief justice asked. Barrister Zafarullah Khan of the Watan party contended that PSM administration wanted to delay the case, so no progress was being made into the investigation in light of the Supreme Court orders. He said the mills losses were being increased so that its land measuring 1,450 acre could be sold.
