The Supreme Court, on Thursday, criticized the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) performance and inquired why the agency was slow to recover the public money in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) corruption case.
A three-member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the proceedings regarding alleged corruption in the affairs of the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).
Moreover, the chief justice warned that if the FIA failed to recover the money, the case would be forwarded to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Authorities of Interior Ministry told the court that the case was sent to the Law Ministry through attorney general, fee has been fixed but it has not been deposited so far, the fee will be deposited by the Interior and Finance Ministries.
FIA Legal Director Azam Khan told SC that Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Faheem has filed a case in the Sindh High Court (SHC) and the Secretary Commerce was replaced by another one.
Upon inquiry of chief justice, the court was informed that the only recovery still to be made was worth Rs 420 million from Amin Dada Bhai and Khalid Anwar, while property having worth of Rs 4.2 million has been ceased.
The CJ stated, “This money belongs to the country and nation, why the FIA was slow to recover the public money, FIA should make the recoveries otherwise a case would be registered against it”.
The court was informed that an accused in the scandal, Inam Ghani is in the London and enjoying vacation.
While the counsel of Mohsin Warraich told SC that his client had been looking for political asylum in England.
The chief justice stated that the money was not recovered from Mohsin Warraich and Habib Ullah Warraich, added that, “Mohsin Warraich is a fugitive, tell him to return back to Pakistan by respecting country’s laws and if his passport was suspended, England’s government will deport him at once”.
Azam Khan told SC that the money preserved in Moonis Elahi and his wife’s accounts was not found with any relation with the money laundering and crime.
Upon which, the SC stated that there is no need to take any action against Moonis Elahi and his wife.
Later, the court summoned reply from all respondents over the Justice Ghulam Rabbani commission report regarding NICL corruption case. Notices were issued to former FIA Director General (DG) Malik Iqbal, former Secretary Cabinet Abdul Rauf Chaudhry, former Secretary Interior Qamar uz Zaman Chaudhry over the matter of contempt of court regarding NICL corruption case.
Then the hearing was subsequently adjourned for a period of three weeks by the Supreme Court.
