ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) once again took Zafar Hijazi, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) chairman, into custody on Monday after he was discharged from hospital.
The medical board had suggested an angiography for Hijazi. However, he declined. The doctors then discharged him from the hospital.
LHC: Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued notices on a petition seeking removal of Zafar Hijazi from office. The judge ordered the federal government to file a reply within two weeks.
Zahir Ali had filed the petition, stating that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had found Hijazi guilty of tampering with official record.
“The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) then ordered the registration of a criminal case under sections 466 and 471 of the PPC. Even after the registration of the case, Hijazi still holds the office,” the petition stated.
Acting SECP chief: The federal government on Monday suspended SECP chairman Zafar Hijazi.
The Ministry of Finance issued a notification to suspend Hijazi. Zafar Abdullah has now been appointed as acting chairman of the SECP. “In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 6 of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Act, 1997, read with Section 16 of the General Clauses Act 1897, the federal government is pleased to place Zafarul Haq Hijazi, SECP chairman under suspension with immediate effect and until further orders,” reads the official notification.
Published in Daily Times, July 25th 2017.
