CJ gives govt three days to dismiss DG FIA

Supreme Court of Pakistan. — Photo by AP ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Tuesday directed the government to dismiss Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Waseem Ahmed within a period of three days, DawnNews reported. The directive came during the apex court’s hearing of the Haj corruption case. During Tuesday's proceeding, Supreme Court judge Justice Raja Fayyaz stated that the Haj scam could not be justly investigated under the supervision of the current DG FIA. The apex court also dismissed the FIA’s report on the Haj corruption case. Justice Fayyaz further said that the FIA was trying to protect suspects. Earlier on January 11, the Supreme Court had asked the government to consider disassociating Ahmed from the inquiry into mismanagement and alleged corruption in Haj arrangements. Ahmed on Thursday has also been accused of providing protection to Amin Qasim Dada, a member of the board of directors of the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL), who is among the accused in the NICL scam. Ahmed, however, dismissed the allegation. Moreover, the apex court has previously directed the government to withdraw the appointment notification of Ahmed along with other contract officers.