ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest the main culprits — Chairman National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) Ayaz Khan Niazi and Mohsin Warraich — in the NICL scam without delay.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Shakirullah Jan and Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk was hearing a suo motu case regarding violation of rules by NICL chief in procuring land and property within and outside the country at high rates that cause huge financial loss to the national exchequer.
During the proceeding, DG FIA Waseem Ahmed informed the bench that they have arrested 10 persons including Habibullah Warraich and the Interpol had issued a red warrant for the arrest of his son Mohsin Warraich. He said the persons arrested are of first tier involved in the scam. FIAÂ’s Director Zafar Qureshi said he would soon give good news to the apex court.
Waseem said for the arrest of Ayaz Niazi they have conducted raids in Lahore and Karachi and also put his name on Exit Control List (ECL), adding they have seized his properties and the efforts for his arrests are underway.
According to the media reports after registration of a case against him on charges of fraud on the directives of the Supreme Court, the NICL chairman was sent on long leave by the federal government.
The chief justice, after hearing the arguments, said the main culprit in the scam was still at large, adding the escape of main accused would give impression that he ran clear of arrest on being influential. He said: “We are only interested that there should be no corruption in the country.”
The CJP also reprimanded Secretary Commerce Zafar Mehmood for not cooperating in the case and directed him to extend full cooperation to the FIA. The secretary told he had asked the FIA to probe the matter thoroughly. The court directed him to lodge separate FIRs against the culprits and also submit a comprehensive report.
SM Zafar, counsel for Habibullah informed the court that as his client has returned money, and there was no case against him therefore he should be released. The court directed him to go to the competent court in this regard.
Habibullah Warraich, a former state minister for defece, was accused of embezzling Rs1.68 billion from the company funds. He was charged for selling 800 kanals to the NICL at inflated rates. He was arrested on October 31 from his residence on the corruption charges after which his assets, worth an estimated Rs1.2 billion were frozen.
Abdul Hafeez Pirzada informed the court that he was not representing an individual (NICL chief) but the whole company, and prayed if Ayaz is arrested then he should be treated gently.
Later, the Supreme Court adjourned the caseÂ’s hearing for three weeks.
Transparency International Pakistan has written a letter to Ayaz Khan and also to SC registrar requesting to take action under rule and law applicable to all for the eradication of the corruption and corrupt practices. The letter alleged that 803 kanal, 19 marla plot in Lahore reportedly belonging to ex MNA Habibullah Warraich, whose current market value is Rs.300,000 per kanal, was purchased at Rs 2,000,000 per kanal by NICL.
Similarly, 27,000 sft office space in Dubai in Liberty Tower was purchased in July 2009 at the rate of UAE Darham 2,700 per sft against the market price of UAE Darham 1,200 per sft, which allegedly caused loss of Rs 900 million to exchequer.
Ten acre plot was purchased in Korangi Deh Phihai, in August 2009, at the rate Rs90,000,000 per acres, against maximum market price of Rs.20,000,000 per acre. The lass caused was Rs70,000,000.
Award of the contract for painting works and furniture was given to M/s Casa Bella Lahore, Karachi @ Rs26.987 million and at Islamabad @ 9,310,000. M/s Casa Bella is not a license holder of Pakistan Engineering Council. The tender for Karachi was for 6 floors, but the contractor has been asked to paint only 4 floors. Similarly, Rs1.5 billion land purchased in Lahore in 2009 from Mohsin Warraich, whose market value is Rs 30 million the loss caused to exchequer Rs1.2 billion.