ISLAMABAD, June 27: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered suspension of Inspector General (IG) Police Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Hussain Asghar.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry hearing the Haj corruption scam passed the orders after it was informed that Hussain Asghar did not want to rejoin Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Mr Asghar was head of the investigation team probing Haj scam and was later appointed as IG Gilgit-Baltistan last year. However, the apex court had ordered to reappoint him as head of the FIA team.

Issuing the order, the CJ remarked that his salary should also be stopped in case of non-compliance. He also asked as to why Hussain Asghar did not appear before the court, in person.

“He does not enjoy a post superior to prime minister,” the CJ remarked.

Earlier, the deputy Attorney General Gul Mohammad Alizai informed the court that Hussain Asghar was not coming despite being summoned repeatedly. He said the officer was not interested in rejoining FIA.

On this, the court noted that officers deputed in provinces were obliged to accept orders given by the federal government. The court wondered how the government had become so helpless that one of its employees was refusing to listen to it. Taking exception to his continued absence, the court directed secretary establishment to suspend him immediately and submit a report of the same on Thursday.