Swati may be tried under Article 62(1)(f): CJ

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday suggested that Federal Minister Azam Swati could be tried under Article 62(1) (f) the same section that led to the Disqualiication last year of DEPOSED prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan TEHRIK-E-INSAF (PTI) secretary general Jahangir Tareen.

Swati was accused of playing a role in the transfer of former Islamabad Inspector General of Police Jan Mohammad — an allegation over which the apex court had pondered taking action against him under Article 62 of the Constitution before forming a JIT.

The former IGP’S transfer took place after Swati’s son registered a case against a family of slum dwellers for allegedly trespassing on his family’s land. Five people, including two women, were arrested for trespassing on the land and beating up Swati’s guards. They were released after a day’s detention as police said a settlement had been reached between the minister and the detained family.

Article 62(1)(f), which sets the precondition for a member of parliament to be honest and righteous, is the same provision under which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was DISQUALIIED By A IVE-JUDGE Apex court bench on July 28, 2017, in the Panama case. Likewise, Tareen was DISQUALIIED on DEC.15 last year By A separate bench of the apex court under the same provision.

“We’ve read the joint investigation team report,” the chief justice said, referring to the report submitted in the last hearing of the case, which revealed that Swati had ‘misused’ his OFICE AND was GIVEN SPECIAL treatment by authorities due to his position.

Attorney General Anwar Mansoor apprised the court on the matter, saying that it does not fall under National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws.

“THEN ight THE CASE under ARTICLE 62(1)(f),” the chief justice said. “Is Swati READY to make A SACRIICE? WE Don’t Even want his money for the dam fund. The Supreme Court is authorised to record testimonies under Article 62(1)(f),” the chief justice observed, to which Swati’s lawyer, Ali Zafar, pointed out that there was no such precedent. “We will set a precedent then,” Justice Nisar said.

Zafar told the court that his client had been asked 10 questions by the JIT. THE irst question was About WHETHER the IGP was transferred under pressure from Swati, Zafar said.