The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take legal action against Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim in the case of ineligible appointments of National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) chairman. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard case of land purchase in the infamous NICL scandal.
“It is not the era of kingdoms. Does the government considers appointing thieves its right?” the judges remarked when the court was informed by FIA that Makhdoom Amin Fahim had not paid Rs 40 million so far. FIA Director Moazzam Jah told the SC that one billion rupees were recovered, nine persons were arrested and challans presented to trial court, but the hearing of the case had not started due to the unavailability of judges, adding that Amin Fahim had not paid Rs 40 million because he had filed a civil case. Commerce Secretary Zafar Mehmood said FIA was satisfied with the investigations from Makhdoom Amin Fahim and no further evidences of corruption appeared in NICL forensic audit report. However, the CJ reprimanded Zafar, telling him Amin Fahim appointed a person as the chairman of NICL who was ineligible.
The CJ said it was a massive corruption scam and money was being recovered through the struggle of the court, but people still criticized courts. The commerce secretary was ordered to submit a report that entailed the details of persons responsible for the scam. The SC expressed annoyance when the court inquired of the commerce secretary why no legal action had been taken against Amin Fahim. Expressing its annoyance, the court said if legal action could be carried out against the prime minister for not complying with the court orders, then it could be carried out against any minister.