ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Friday suspended the transfer notification of FIA Additional Director General (ADG) Zafar Qureshi, who is heading a team to probe National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) financial scandal. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Tariq Pervaiz and Justice Amir Hani Muslim was hearing the case regarding contempt of court notices to three federal secretaries in NICL scandal case. The court, suspending the transfer of FIA ADG Zafar Qureshi, asked him to assist the court in the NICL scandal. The court also sought a report within 15 days in this regard. The chief justice remarked that Zafar Qureshi has recovered Rs1.75 billion to the national exchequer, which was record recovery in a criminal case. The court directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general to provide full assistance to Zafar Qureshi as the director general (DG) is bound to provide such assistance. Earlier, during the case proceedings, Babar Awan told the court that the prime minister using his authority rejected the summary regarding bringing back Zafar Qureshi into NICL scam investigation team. Babar Awan, who appeared on behalf of three federal secretaries former Interior Secretary Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Establishment Division Secretary Abdul Rauf Chaudhry and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Khushnood Lashari said the PM was only exercising his constitutional and legal authority and that the government respected the judiciary. The chief justice said: We are showing restraint despite the violation of its (SC) orders. He said that the government should realise that it doesnt seem to be serious in implementing the courts decision. Iftikhar Chaudhry said that official record was itself a proof that the government has lent a deaf ear to almost all the decisions made by the apex court. Babar said the officers have acted on the direction of the chief executive (PM). The chief justice said that the prime minister was not superior to the court, asking as to why these officials (the secretaries) have taken such step for transferring Qureshi from NICL inquiry. The CJP asked Babar Awan that he should have stood by a person (FIA ADG) who was able to recover huge amounts of money and the PM should have appreciated him. Babar replied that all these secretaries hold the court in high esteem. He said neither the secretaries nor the federal government has any interest in removing Mr Qureshi from NICL case. The chief justice then ordered to repost Qureshi. He asked Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Maulvi Anwarul Haq: Why should not we suspend this (transfer) notification. The AG responded that the court can direct in this regard; as there was precedent in the past, but added that the officers have pinpointed that other people were also involved in the scandal. The CJP said that when an officer was honestly investigating the case, what was the need to transfer him? Mr Qureshi was able to recover Rs1.74 billion in NICL scam and since Queshi has been removed the investigation in NICL case has come to a standstill, he added. The case was adjourned for date in office. Zafar Qureshi in the capacity of FIA ADG had interrogated NICL Chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi and successfully recovered Rs1.74 billion. As the investigation was in progress with respect of other accused, including PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi, he was suddenly removed from the investigation and appointed as National Police Foundation director. On the court intervention Qureshi was reposted as FIA ADG via notification on 24-01-2011. As the investigation was in progress Qureshi registered other cases against the persons directly or indirectly involved in the NICL scam, but Malik Muhammad Iqbal, who replaced Waseem Ahmed as FIA DG surprisingly wrote a letter to Interior Secretary on April 16, 2011. On that basis the Establishment Division issued a notification on April 18, 2011 for Qureshis transfer. The court therefore issued contempt of court notice to Malik Iqbal under Article 204 of the Constitution read with Section 3 of Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 for creating obstacle in the NICL investigation.