A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry reserved judgement on Zafar Qureshi reinstatement on July 25 while hearing a suo motu notice regarding NICL scam. In its detailed 32-page judgement, the SC also asked DG FIA and other concerned officials to refrain from creating any hurdle or taking any disciplinary action against Qureshi in the absence of a prior approval of the SC.
In pursuance of the SC orders, Zafar Ahmad Qureshi will be required to submit a fortnightly report to Justice Amir Hani Muslim pertaining to the progress of the investigation duly countersigned by the D.G. FIA. Besides, SC Justice Ghulam Rabbani shall conduct inquiry on various aspects of possible political intervention in the Qureshi suspension which the court deemed was fuelled by propaganda against judiciary on electronic media to undermine the SC authority.
"We would expect from him to complete the inquiry expeditiously in the interest of the justice," the bench stated in the judgement. Sajid Mehmood Qazi, Additional Registrar of SC, Secretary Interior, Secretary Establishment and Secretary Information have been asked to facilitate Justice Rabbani in the course of enquiry.
Justice Rabbani shall conduct enquiry and submit a report on the basis of evidence to determine whether pressure was exerted in case of Qureshi's suspension by the Interior Minster as quoted by media whereas the enquiry would also determine whether or not the government had taken any action against those who individually or collectively made investment to disseminate a campaign against judiciary on electronic media.