A joint investigation team (JIT) formed by the Supreme Court (SC) to probe Federal Minister Azam Swati’s misconduct and assets held him and his guards responsible for a row over farmhouse land which eventually resulted in the transfer of Islamabad IGP Jan Muhammad.
The JIT, headed by Rawalpindi National Accountability Bureau (NAB) director general (DG) Irfan Mangi submitted its report to the apex court on Monday. The JIT was tasked with probing alleged misconduct on the part of Swati, besides examining the minister and his children’s assets and tax payments. The team, comprising of members of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) was asked to present its report within 14 days. The report, which comprises five volumes, holds Swati and his guards responsible for the incident, according to media reports. The report, which is yet to be released publicly, also raises questions over the transfer of IGP Jan Muhammad, sources added. The IGP was abruptly transferred on October 27 after he allegedly refused to take action on a complaint by Swati’s son regarding a fight over purported encroachment with a family at their farmhouse. The transfer made headlines on the media and prompted the SC to take suo motu notice of it. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar subsequently formed the JIT to probe allegations of misuse of authority, misconduct and encroachment against the minister.
Published in Daily Times, November 20th 2018.
