ISLAMABAD: A local court of Islamabad on Saturday handed over the custody of Zafarul Haq Hijazi, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a four-day physical remand.

The FIA took Mr Hijazi into custody on Friday in connection with the case registered against him for alleged tempering with the record related to Chaudhry Sugar Mills owned by the family of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The investigation agency was seeking a 10-day physical remand of the SECP chairman.

Mr Hijazi’s counsel, however, opposed the request of physical remand, saying that since the FIA took two months to inquire the matter and after a thorough probe registered an FIR against the SECP’s chairman, there was no need to hand over the custody of his client to the investigation agency.

Hijazi’s health worsens, may stay at Pims for three days

The counsel further said that Mr Hijazi was 64 years old, had a kidney transplant in 2001, developed diabetes mellitus type-2, needed specialised medicine and his detention would have a negative impact on his health.

Senior civil judge Mohammad Shabbir sent for Mr Hijazi’s medical report and after its perusal approved the four-day physical remand. Upon request of Mr Hijazi’s counsel, the judge directed the investigation officer to provide medical treatment to the suspect if required.

‘Negative impact’

Mr Hijazi may stay at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for three days as his health worsened on Saturday and he was shifted to the hospital’s cardiac care unit (CCU).

According to doctors, Mr Hijazi was already a heart patient but registration of a case against him and his arrest has severely affected him psychologically.

They said they could not allow investigation of the patient as it could have negative impact on his health.

Mr Hijazi’s pre-arrest bail was rejected on Friday and after that he was shifted to Pims for a medical check-up.

At Pims a five-member team of doctors has been formed for Mr Hijazi’s treatment. Headed by cardiologist Dr Naeem Malik, the team has urologist Dr Sajid Qazi, nephrologist Dr Sohail Tanveer, general physician Dr Shajee Ahmed Sidiqui and Dr Faisal Kakar from the hospital’s administration wing as its members.

Dr Kakar told reporters on Saturday that Mr Hijazi’s heart problem had further worsened due to which he had been shifted to the CCU. “He has severe chest pain and difficulty in breathing.”

Answering a question, Dr Kakar rejected the impression that Pims doctors were under any pressure for deliberately keeping Mr Hijazi in the hospital.

Pims Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram told Dawn that Mr Hijazi was feeling psychological pressure due to his arrest and registration of a case against him.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Babar Awan has expressed reservations over the formation of a special team of doctors for Mr Hijazi’s treatment. He alleged that the intention behind what he called a fake story of Mr Hijazi’s medical problems was to protect him from investigation.

He alleged that Mr Hijazi had tried to rescue ‘Godfather’ by tampering with the SECP record.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2017