Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected government notification making Establishment Secretary Shoil Ahmed “Officer on Special Duty” (OSD) and ordered the government to give Hussain Asghar charge of investigation officer into the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe Haj scam as soon as he returned form Gilgit Baltistan.
The court ruled that the notification about Sohail Ahmed was non-practical, adding that the it was the government’s prerogative to appoint him on any other post.
The SC released its verdict on Hussain Asghar issue in Haj corruption case here Friday.
According to the verdict, written by six-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Hussain Asghar revealed during the investigation that influential people were involved in looting the pilgrims during Haj. The verdict noted that Asghar was removed from the post after he hinted at involvement of important personalities in the Haj scam.
It further noted that Rao Shakeel, former Haj director, was appointment as Haj director by the prime minister despite being involved in accountability cases in a Lahore court. Rao Shakil’s name placed in Exit Control List (ECL) was removed on the behest of Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
The verdict said, Saudi Prince, Senator Khalid Soomro of Jammiat Ulemai Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and several other parliamentarians complained about the maladministration and corruption in Haj affairs and demanded inquiry. Besides Local newspapers wrote editorials on the Haj corruption.
It said, The apex court was fully aware of its powers and limits to take up any case, adding that high courts and the Supreme Court were the protectors of basic human rights granted by the Constitution.
“The court will not allow national wealth to be looted”, the verdict noted.
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