LAHORE, Sept 28: The Lahore High Court on Friday summoned interior secretary, Federal Investigation Agency Punjab director general and SSP (Operations) Lahore on petitions against chief executive officer of a known visa consultancy.

Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, hearing the petitions, also suspended a notification pertaining to transfer of an FIA officer, Jawad Qureshi, who is holding investigation into the complaints against the visa firm.

A law officer told the court that Mr Qureshi had been transferred to Punjab government and the investigation had been entrusted to Khadim Hussain Bhatti, the new officer.

Justice Naqvi took a strong notice of the transfer and ordered that the investigation be conducted by the same officer (Mr Qureshi).

The judge also rejected a medical certificate produced by the counsel of Future Concern’s CEO Asim Malik to seek exemption from personal appearance of his client before the court. The judge summoned the doctor along with the relevant record who issued the certificate to Malik.

During the course of hearing, Advocate Dr Basit, counsel of Malik, objected to appearance of many bar leaders on behalf of the petitioners and said they had been trying to influence the court. Justice Naqvi, however, observed that the time had gone when courts got frightened (by such tactics).

The judge adjourned further hearing till Oct 1.

The judge had been hearing several petitions accusing Asim Malik of depriving the petitioners of their hard-earned money. The petitioners complained that they had given money to the respondent company for going abroad but they were defrauded. They said Malik neither sent them abroad nor returned their money.