ISLAMABAD The Supreme Court on Tuesday while giving Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, who was promoted by the Federal Government as Additional DG FIA Criminal Wing in a criminal way, into police custody for completion of his sentence awarded by the Lahore High Court in the NAB reference cases, set another deadline of 24 hours for implementation of its December 16th verdict on the National Reconciliation Order (NRO). On the order of the apex court, police arrested the Ahmad Riaz Sheikh from the courts premises and shifted him to the Secretariat Police Station. Later, he was shifted to the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi. The court directed Chairman NAB to reopen all such cases pertaining to the NRO within as well as outside the country without any fear or hesitation. Chief Justice remarked that Mr Chairman today the whole nation was asking him that where had gone their money, which was collected from them in the name of tax. The court directed the NAB Chairman not to waste any more time in seeking advices from anyone else and ensure the implementation of apex courts verdict in its letter and spirit. A six-member larger bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad, Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday while hearing this case has restored the punishment of five-year imprisonment term and fine amounting to Rs 20 million. In its order, the apex court asked the NAB to confiscate the property of Ahmad Riaz Sheikh within three days and file a report with the Registrar office of Supreme Court. Chairman NAB Naveed Ahsan informed the court that 167 cases had been revived after the verdict of the apex court on the NRO. When the court enquired from the Chairman NAB regarding the details of these cases, he told that not a single case was reopened outside the country. He informed the court that immunity in the Constitution for the President restricted him from writing a letter to Swiss Government. On this, the CJ asked him not to mention name of anybody. The court directed the Chairmen NAB to do his work as per the SC verdict and write a letter to the Swiss Government, as no one had come to the court, so far, to claim immunity. Earlier, the court had issued contempt of court notices on Chairman & Acting Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), DG FIA, Secretary interior, Raja Ahsan, and Secretary Establishment for not implementing its NRO verdict accordingly. These officials explained their position before the court but the court observed that these explanations were not satisfactory. The court asked these officials to submit written explanation regarding contempt of the court notices today (Wednesday). The Secretary Law also appeared before the court and explained his position in this regard. The court observed that the Law Ministry did not take a single step to implement the apex courts order. The court asked the Secretary Law to ensure filing of a reference against former attorney general Malik Muhammad Qayyaum, removal of Prosecutor General of NAB (Dr Danishwar Malik) and increase in the numbers of accountability courts and submit report in SC on Wednesday (30-03-2010). Justice Ramday inquired from the Secretary Interior and DG FIA that there was no one except 'dacoits and criminals eligible for the promotion. Why you promoted an acquitted official even after the NRO judgement of 17-member SC bench. Rashid A. Rizvi, counsel of Riaz Sheikh, sought time from the bench saying that it had granted two-week time to others in the cases registered under the NRO and he could not find time to go through a very lengthy record. When his request was turned down, he said that he would be unable to plead the case and therefore, he was separating himself from the case. In its first written statement for withdrawal of his petition, he wrote that he was doing so because senior officials were humiliated by the court. On this, Justice Ramday remarked that such kind of drama would not be allowed to scandalise the courts.