ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Friday sought report from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to harass the former Prime Minister’s son Abdul Qadir Gilani in the Haj scam.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Azmat Saeed was hearing a suo moto case of corruption during the performance of Haj in 2010.
The chief justice has taken suo moto on the complaints of three MNAs, two Senators, a letter written by Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz-Al-Saud and applications received by Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday from different Hajjis during the performance of Haj in 2010.
Director FIA Hussain Asghar, who had been appointed investigation officer in the case, informed the bench that Customs documents have confirmed the accusation leveled by PML-N MNA Imran Ahmed Shah that Rao Shakeel, ex-DG Operations Haj, gave Rs20 million worth car to Abdul Qadir.
As Hussain Asghar was investigating the matter to the satisfaction of the apex court, however, the federal government appointed him as Inspector General of Police Gilgit Baltistan, but due to the SC he was reinstated in the FIA to resume the investigations in the Haj scandal.
Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for Abdul Qadir, argued that Hussain Asghar is spoiling the case, as the car for his client was imported in 2009, while the apex court started hearing the case in 2010. He pleaded that investigation conducted by Hussain Asghar against his client is biased as he was stepping beyond his jurisdiction. The learned counsel said that he had filed an application against Hussain Asghar in the Haj scam.
Abdul Qadir alleged in the application that FIA investigation officer harassing him. Hussain Asghar is probing the B.A. degree of ex-PM’s son, which is not required in the case, Pirzada said.
The chief justice remarked that Hussain Asghar is an upright officer and the case would not be left incomplete. He directed Hussain Asghar to confine himself to the Haj scam case. If there is any complaint other than the case then other department should investigate it.
The case was adjourned till January 21.