ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave authorities a deadline of June 8 to recall Hussain Asghar to investigate the Haj corruption case, Media reported.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khwaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain heard the case.Asghar had been tasked to investigate the Haj arrangements corruption case and is currently serving as Inspector General Police Gilgit-Baltistan. The court said that not bringing Asghar back to probe the case would be a violation of its order.
During the hearing, Attorney General Irfan Qadir told the court that orders calling for Asghar’s transfer had been issued but he did not want to return.Qadir moreover said that Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah also did not want to relieve Asghar.The court expressed its displeasure and said that by not relieving Asghar, Chief Minister Shah was ridiculing the court and that Asghar must follow the directives of the prime minister.
The court reiterated that its rulings must be implemented, adding that, if Asghar does not return for the investigation it would be a violation of the court’s order as well as the government’s directives.The federation has the authority to recall officials from the provinces, the court said.
A man from the forces could not violate discipline without someone’s backing, the court said, adding that, Asghar should have been suspended and his salary should have been withheld as a disciplinary measure after refusing to return.The attorney general asked how Asghar could have been suspended without being given a chance to explain himself.
Responding to which, Chief Justice Iftikhar said that as per rules the opportunity to explain oneself was given only once the concerned official was suspended.The attorney general requested the court for more time to recall Asghar on which the court said that the official must return to his previous position by June 8. – Dawn
