ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and others over their anti-judiciary campaign relating to National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) case.Resuming hearing of the NICL multi-billion scam case, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued directives to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to complete investigations into the NICL scam.At the outset of the hearing, Federal Secretary Zafar Mehmood apprised the court that he had completed the process for moving a summary to prime minister to recover Rs35 million from Ayaz Khan Niazi which was paid to him as perks and privileges. Mehmood also tendered apology before the bench over delay to initiate an action against Niazi and justified the delay informing the bench that he was accompanying President Asif Ali Zardari on his recent visit to China.Mehmood further informed the court that Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) had also made rules that no officer or private person would be appointed head of an institution without prior approval of the SECP upon which Justice Khawaja said rules don’t have upper hand over the Statute, adding that Section 12 of the Insurance Ordinance 2000 provides criteria of appointment of NICL chairman.He also informed the court that former NICL Chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi got Rs 35 million in salaries and privileges from the NICL. Niazi could not take over the charge without the clearance of SECP, he told the court.Moazam Jah, Director FIA Karachi told the bench that he had not exonerated any person but collected evidence in the case, adding, he had not declared any body innocent or guilty in the case. Jah added that he was looking for a circumstantial evidence having nexus between appointment of Ayaz Khan Niazi and flow of money from his bank account.The CJP observed that although Amin Fahim was respectable for the bench but at the same time decision of the instant case would be taken on merit.During the proceedings, former lead investigation officer of the NICL case Zafar Qureshi told the bench that Rs 320 million and Rs 100 million had to be collected from Moonis Elahi and Habibullah Waraich respectively.Qureshi submitted that uncle of Habibullah namely Muhammad Akram gave 10 cheques against the outstanding amount after the permission of a judge in Lahore. Qureshi told the bench that first cheque was bounced. Upon which the official of Lahore FIA informed the bench that an application had been submitted in the central court for legal action.He said Interior Ministry, the State Bank of Pakistan, FIA and other institutions tried to save Moonis Elahi during the investigation while no government institution extended cooperation during the investigation of the case.The Chief Justice observed that it was FIA’s duty to investigate because the court could only go to a certain extent, adding, that FIA should investigate the NICL case from both the civil and criminal angles.Adjourning the hearing till June 22 the court asked for submission of report about the details of money sent overseas through the NICL.The bench also directed the federal commence secretary to submit a report about the appointment of Ayaz Khan Niazi as chairman NICL.The hearing was adjourned till June 22.






