ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave another opportunity to FIA to arrest Khurram Rasool, former media coordinator to the PM, and others by Friday.
Warning Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials of serious consequences, the court told them to ensure the arrests as names of some high-ups were being taken in the case.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Pervaiz heard the petition filed by Pervaiz Hussain and others.
At the beginning of the proceeding, the chief justice directed FIA Additional Director General (ADG) Chaudhry Sajjad Ahmed to get the statement of Sameer Hussain, son of Pervaiz Hussain, and Nargis Sethi recorded under section 164 of CrPc by 1pm and adjourned the hearing. The CJP said if the allegation is proved, it would be a major issue. At 1pm when the case was again taken up, the ADG informed the court that Islamabad Industrial Areas AC Mr Imran was recording the statement of Sameer Hussain. The chief justice asked him to also record the statement of Nargis Sethi, who had lodged a private complaint.
The chief justice inquired from ADG why Khurram Rasool could not be arrested. He replied that raided were conducted at different places for the arrest of Khurram Rasool and his brother Shahid Rasool. He sought one week time for their arrest. Justice Khilji remarked if the police wanted it could arrest the culprits within no time. He said the FIA brought an accused from Bangkok in three days and recovered Rs30 million from him.
The FIA ADG informed the court that after the registration of FIR, the petitioners entered into a deal with Khurram Rasool and took Rs9 million in cash. But when the cheque of Rs530 million was bounced they became active. The official further informed the court that Sameer Hussain’s statement, in which he alleged that Principle Secretary to Prime Minister Khushnood Lashari telephoned to former FIA DGs Malik Iqbal and Waseem Ahmed for not arresting Khurram Rasool and others, was sent to Khushnood Lashari, Waseem Ahmed and Malik Iqbal and they have denied the allegation.
The court observed that on January 11, 2012 notice was issued to FIA DG Tehsin Anwar Shah to appear before the court and produce Khurram Rasool and others before the apex court. He though appeared on January 20 but failed to comply with the order. He was asked to produce Khurram Rasool on the next date of hearing. The DG instead of complying with the SC order went to Britain on the pretext that he had a scheduled programme. On January 21, 2012 it transpired that the accused persons could not be arrested due to the interference of the high-ups.
The petitioner in his letter dated July 1, 2011 claimed that Khushnood Lashari had telephoned to Waseem Ahmed and Malik Iqbal for not arresting Khurram Rasool.
It is interesting to note that former Principle Secretary to PM Nargis Sethi lodged the complaint. The petitioner claimed that due to the involvement of officers of FIA the accused could not be arrested despite the Islamabad High Court orders. The petitioners grievance is that they were deprived of Rs630 million.
The court directed the Sajjad Ahmed to pass on this order to FIA DG to arrest Khurram Rasool so that law may take its course. The chief justice warned the DG might have to face serious consequence for flouting the court orders repeatedly. The hearing was adjourned till Friday.