Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) cancels notification issued by the federal government regarding the suspension of additional director-general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Zafar Quershi and directed him to take charge of the investigations in multi-billion rupee land scam in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).

It should be mentioned here that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry constituted a three member bench to hear the case regarding suspension of Zafar Qureshi.

The apex court directed the government not to initiate any action whatsoever against Zafar Qureshi without prior permission from the court.

It is pertinent to note here that a three-member bench of apex court headed by CJ Chaudhry reserved its judgment regarding removal of NICL scam probe officer Zafar Qureshi by the government on July 25.

Justice Shakirullah Jan read out the ruling as the CJ Chaudhry was in Lahore for hearing another significant case.

The court declared that Attorney General failed to submit Prime Minister’s reaction on the issue.

In its previous hearing, the court had also asked for replies of Prime Minister, Interior Minister, Interior Secretary and Establishment Division Secretary. But no response was received from them.

Earlier on July 1, the court ordered the federal government to take back notification regarding the suspension of Zafar Qureshi, who court ordered to resume investigations again. However, he was suspended again within 72 hours of his reinstatement for talking to media without departmental authorization. SAMAA