Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum has expressed dissatisfaction with a report submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a contempt of court case and ordered the agency to present a fresh and complete report at the next hearing.During the hearing on Thursday, the chief justice also rejected a request for exemption from personal appearance made on behalf of FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar and directed him to appear in court with the complete report.

Court indicated that contempt proceedings could be initiated if it was found that its earlier order had not been implemented.The Chief Justice remarked that the report submitted by the FIA was incomplete. She directed the DG to provide the names of the officers who were responsible during the period when the court’s order was not implemented. “If there is a difference in the dates, contempt proceedings will be initiated,” the chief justice observed. 

Dr Usman Anwar told the court that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) officials were not at fault and requested that the FIA be given some more time to submit the required material. The chief justice responded that if the NCCIA officials were not responsible, then the FIA itself had a responsibility to comply with the court’s directions. The chief justice responded, "If it is not their [NCCIA] fault, then it is certainly yours."

She ordered the FIA DG to submit a comprehensive and complete report at the next hearing and directed him to appear in person with the full report. The case was filed by citizen Muhammad Ismail, who approached the Lahore High Court over non-compliance with an earlier court order concerning an inquiry. At the previous hearing, FIA representatives, including Deputy Director Mehak Abbas and Deputy Director (Legal) Hafiz Azeem, appeared before the court.

The Deputy Attorney General presented the FIA’s report and stated that the court’s September 13, 2024, order had been complied with. The court, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the report and questioned why the FIA had submitted a copy produced through the CamScanner application.Chief Justice Aalia Neelum had then asked who was serving as the FIA director general. After being told that the post was held by Dr Usman Anwar, she directed the officials to ensure his personal appearance before the court.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)