SC suspends transfer notification of NICL inquiry officer

SC suspends transfer notification of NICL inquiry officer

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday suspended the transfer notification of NICL inquiry office and Additional Director General Zafar Ahmed Qureshi as Director General of the National Police Foundation (NPF), DawnNews reported.

The court suspended the notification after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani refused to sign a summary re-appointing Qureshi as the investigation officer in the case.

During Friday’s hearing into the case, Babar Awan said Prime Minister Gilani was only exercising his constitutional and legal authority and that the government respected the judiciary. Earlier on April 16, former DG FIA Malik Iqbal had written a letter to the interior ministry on the NICL investigation, informing it about the submission of interim challans to the relevant courts and about some recovery. Consequently, the cabinet division issued a notification on April 18 transferring Qureshi to the NPF despite the fact that the investigation was in progress. Malik Iqbal was later indicted by the apex court in a contempt of court case on June 3 for issuing orders which led to the transfer of Qureshi. Malik Iqbal created hurdles in the investigation of NICL and played a role in removal of Qureshi, Chief Justice Iftikhar had observed while indicting the former FIA chief.