ISLAMABAD : The Supreme Court on Friday, expressing its dismay and anguish over transfer issue of two high officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) tasked to probe Hajj arrangements corruption issue,
directed the authorities concerned to recall them or the Court would take appropriate steps.Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked during course of proceedings that if Syed Jawed Hussain Bukhari and Hussain Asghar were not called back upon their previous posts, they would cancel their transfer directives.The four-member bench resumed hearing of a suo motu case related to Hajj arrangements corruption case. When the bench was told that Jawed Hussain Bukhari, former additional director general FIA and Hussain Asghar, former director, had been relieved of their duties, the Chief Justice observed that such transfers took place whenever the apex Court took cognizance of a corruption case, and with such actions the probe process was hindered.
Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed remarked that transfer of such officials, who had been investigating the issue under Court’s directive, would be taken as an interference in judicial work.
The bench also told the FIA officials not to harass journalists who had performed Hajj on the government expense over which they had already issued directives.
The counsel for Hamid Saeed Kazmi, former religious minister, prayed that the FIA should be ordered to take action against Umer Sherzai and Azam Khan Swati, former minister, for levelling false allegations against his client, which they could not prove.
Justice Javed Iqbal told him that it was not a job of the apex Court, and he could move the lower court in this regard.
The bench granted time to the FIA authorities till May 6 to reconsider transfer of officials and adjourned the hearing.
On last date of hearing, the special bench was apprised that Syed Javed was promoted as he had requested for his promotion which was due while Hussain Asghar had submitted a request to be relieved of the duties as he was no longer interested in investigating the case.
The bench had reprimanded FIA Director General Malik Iqbal for not resisting such requests while knowing well that they were probing a high profile case. APP
