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Like predecessor, present govt seems unlikely to bring back criminals: CJ Iftikhar

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ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Wednesday observed that the present government was like the previous government and perhaps did not want to bring back the criminals.

He remarked that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had failed to deliver in the National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL) scam, as it has not yet apprehended Mohsin Warriach, who managed to flee the country.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by the CJ, was hearing the suo moto case on violation of Public Procurement Rules 2004 resulting in the loss of billions of rupees to the public exchequer caused by the NICL.

The court directed the government to fix priorities as to how to proceed for the disposal of the NICL corruption case at the earliest.Appearing on notice, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Shah Khawar apprised the court that he had gone through the report and relevant orders of the courts.

The CJ asked him to dosomething tangible in the instant matter and inquired what action had been taken by the concerned authorities to recover the looted money of Rs45 million through the scam.

FIA Director Legal Azim Khan told the bench that two high courts had barred the agency from further investigation in the matter. The CJ admonished him and said why the FIA had not filed an appeal against the verdicts of high courts, adding that current matter was under adjudication in the apex court since 2011.

The court asked FIA Punjab Director Zone Qudratullah as to what action was taken to recover the looted money. Qudratullah submitted that property of the accused persons was attached.Justice Ijaz Chaudhry, another member of the bench, told Shah Khawar that if he was expecting any progress from a director in the case, it would not be possible.

Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed also asked Shah Khawar to make it possible that interruption in the investigation of the matter could be stopped.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till July 25.

End.