ISLAMABAD, July 18: The Supreme Court ordered on Wednesday termination of service of Inspector General of Gilgit-Baltistan Hussain Asghar for his perceived defiance of its directives to report back to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

On several occasions in the past, the court had asked for return of FIA’s former director Hussain Asghar to his parent department to resume investigation into the Haj scandal, but every time it was informed that he was still looking after matters relating to law and order in Gilgit-Baltistan.

On June 5, the court even ordered then principal secretary to the prime minister Khushnood Akhtar Lashari to recall the notification appointing Hussain Asghar as Inspector General of Gilgit-Baltistan if he failed to rejoin the investigation in three days.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khwaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain which has taken up a case relating to allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the 2010 Haj arrangement expressed displeasure over the failure of Mr Asghar to report back to Islamabad despite the court’s orders.

On Wednesday, the bench summoned Attorney General Irfan Qadir who had assured the court on July 8 that the federal government would order immediate repatriation of Mr Asghar. The court asked him to meet Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and bring to his notice the current state of affairs.

“Why he (Mr Asghar) is not being sacked for defying the orders of the court. Fire him if he considers himself above the law. Now it has become the matter of court’s dignity,” the court said.

The chief justice regretted that defying and ridiculing the court’s orders had become order of the day and a fashion. “We are in the impression that our AG is very influential and will do the needful.”

The AG said an inquiry had been initiated against the officer for not assuming the charge in FIA and Regulations and Services Secretary Imtiaz Innayat Ilahi had been appointed investigation officer.

“The dignity of the court should be respected and this court should not be considered as a civil court,” the chief justice said.

“How is it possible that a government servant is ignoring a government decree,” the court said and asked why the government was not ensuring its directions under Section 10 of the Civil Servant Act.

The court adjourned the hearing till Thursday with a direction to the AG to meet the prime minister and inform the court about the outcome.