LAHORE In yet another ugly turn in NICL corruption scandal investigation, the federal government Monday night suspended a competent senior FIA officer, Zafar Ahmad Qureshi, on the pretext of his speaking to media. A recent government attempt to remove Qureshi, who is FIA additional director general (ADG), from the multi-billion rupees corruption case was thwarted by the Supreme Court on Friday as the court cancelled his transfer orders. The chief justice lauded the officer, saying that Qureshi has recovered 1.75 billion rupees to the national exchequer, which was record recovery in a criminal case. The ministry of interior has appointed Shafqat Naghmi as an inquiry officer and asked him to submit report in one week. Source said that Zafar Qureshi, who was heading investigation team probing corruption in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), has been suspended for his bringing the case on the media. Significantly the suspension order for Zafar Ahmad Qureshi was issued after Senior Minister Prevaiz Elahi accompanied by Minister for Interior Rehman Malik called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Prevaiz Elahis son Moonis Elahi is involved in the scam and he has been under detention for the last few months. The move that will further delay the probe which the apex court wants to be completed at the earliest possible has been justified by the government saying that the FIA ADG talked to the media, an area prohibited to the bureaucracy. Source claimed that it was unclear how the top court will proceed on the subject. With his restoration orders the apex court had also directed FIA DG to facilitate ADG Qureshi in NICL scam investigation. But instead of facilitating the ADG, the DG on the very same day transferred all investigation team members assisting the ADG in the NICL case to remote and difficult posts. An FIA officer said that he was suspended only to teach him a lesson. Zafar Qureshi reacting upon the transfer of his subordinates had written a letter to Supreme Court with a copy of the same to FIA DG, informing them about the situation. Qureshi allegedly passed on the information about the letter to media and this was used by the government as a pretext to put him under suspension. On Monday FIA DG also transferred another 18 FIA officers, of rank from inspector to deputy director, across the country only to give an impression that the transfer of NICL team members was part of largescale transfers and postings. The details of transfers are as follows: Deputy Director Abdul Shakoor Memon transferred from State Bank Circle (SBC) Karachi to Cyber Crime Circle (CCC) Islamabad, Assistant Director Mushtaq ahmad Sheikh from Zonal Office Sindh Zone to Anti Corruption Circle (ACC), Punjab Zone Lahore. Assistant Director Abdul Hameed Bhutto from SBC Karachi to Immigration Sialkot airport. Assistant Director Saeed Ahmad Wattu from Immigration Sialkot Airport to FIA SBC Karachi. Assistant Director Saifullah Jokhihio from FIA Commercial Bank Circle (CBC) Karachi to FIA ACC Multan. Ghulam Nabi Assistant Director from FIA ACC Multan to FIA CBC Karachi. Assistant Director Tariq Pervez from FIA Immigration Peshawar to FIA Headquarter Islamabad. Assistant Director Tariq Ausaf from Anti Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) Peshwar to CBC Islamabad Zone. Nine Inspectors were also transferred from Punjab Zone to Islamabad and Balochistan. The inspectors who were transferred are: Muhammad Hashim Raza, Sarwar Waraich, Muhammad Aman Ullah and Ijaaz Ahmad were transferred from Punjab Zone to Islamabad while inspector Sarfraz Ali, Muhammad Nadeem, Rai Nasrullah, S Saleh Sarem Gillani and Mian Muhammad Sabir were transferred from Punjab Zone to Balochistan in different circles. The Supreme Court had suspended the transfer of Zafar Qureshi while a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Friday heard the case regarding contempt of court notices to three federal secretaries. Dr Babar Awan, lawyer to the federal secretaries, who had been issued contempt of court notices by the SC, told the court that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani under the law of division of power, using his authority, has rejected the summary regarding bringing back Zafar Qureshi into NICL scam investigation team. Babar Awan said Prime Minister Gilani was only exercising his constitutional and legal authority and that the government respected the judiciary. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in his remarks said that the court was showing patience towards government despite repeated violation of its directives. 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 turned deaf ears to almost all the decisions made by the Apex Court. The Chief Justice remarked that the officer has recovered 1.75 billion rupees to the national exchequer, which was record recovery in a criminal case. The Supreme Court suspending the transfer of Additional DG FIA Zafar Qureshi, urged him to assist the court in the NICL scandal. The court has also sought a report within 15 days in this regard. Earlier on April 16, former DG FIA Malik Iqbal had written a letter to the interior ministry on the NICL investigation, informing it about the submission of interim challans to the relevant courts and about some recovery. Consequently, the cabinet division issued a notification on April 18 transferring Qureshi to the NPF despite the fact that the investigation was in progress. Malik Iqbal was later indicted by the apex court in a contempt of court case on June 3 for issuing orders which led to the transfer of Qureshi. Malik Iqbal created hurdles in the investigation of NICL and played a role in removal of Qureshi, Chief Justice Iftikhar had observed while indicting the former FIA chief.