Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Azam Swati to submit a written reply by tonight.
A three-judge bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard a suo motu case pertaining to the transfer of Islamabad IGP Jan Muhammad.
Swati and his lawyer appeared before the court.
As the hearing went under way, the chief justice remarked, “You must have seen the joint investigation team’s (JIT) report.” Swati’s lawyer responded in the positive and sought time to submit a written reply.
The bench directed the federal minister to submit his reply in court by tonight.
The hearing of the case was then adjourned till tomorrow (December 5).
During the last hearing, The JIT comprises the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) Ahmad Rizwan, Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Mir Vaiz Niaz and a director general from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) found Swati guilty of misusing authority and mistreating a family that resides near his residence for trespassing.
During the last hearing, CJP Nisar read the investigation team’s conclusion terming Swati’s stance “false and fabricated”. It said the stance of Swati family and their servants pertaining to” cow grazing has no basis whatsoever and thus found to be false, concocted, fabricate, inconsistent and factually incorrect. Moreover, the federal minister was given special treatment by relevant authorities.”
“By the virtue of his post, he wielded his influence and prevailed upon the authorities by misusing his office and profile leading to arbitrary and discriminatory treatment to the private citizens,” the JIT noted.
The CJP remarked that “why not Mr. Sawati should be trialed under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution who is prima facie, not fit to be the minister of the nation.” Ali Zafar, Swati’s lawyer, pleaded for time to submit a detailed response on the report as his client was on an official visit to abroad.
Subsequently, the bench accepting the stance directed the respondent to submit reply till December 4 and adjourned further hearing of the case till then.
