Azam Swati resigns as federal minister

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of an inquiry pertaining to transfer of IG Islamabad, Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati on Thursday resigned from his ministry.

Sources say that the decision came following Supreme Court (SC) order to launch trial against him under Article 62 (1)(f) in a case regarding transfer of Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IG) Jan Muhammad.

During the hearing of the case on the transfer of the Islamabad police chief yesterday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had suggested that Azam Swati could be tried under Article 62(1)(f) ─ the same section that led to the disqualification of former premier Nawaz Sharif.

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.

SC had formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprising officials of FIA, NAB and IB to probe the issue on November 2.

The JIT on November 29 submitted its report to the Supreme Court blaming Swati for misusing powers.

The JIT, in its report, had said allegations against the poor family lacked truth.

It is pertinent to note here that Prime Minister Imran Khan, during his December 3 interview with some senior news anchors, had said that his government will not influence the probe and if Azam Swati is guilty, he two will resign like Babar Awan.

In September, PM’s adviser on parliamentary affairs Babar Awan too had resigned after National Accountability Bureau (NAB)had filed a reference in an accountability court against him and PPP-era Minister for Water and Power Raja Parvez Ashraf and others regarding delay in the Nandipur Power Project case.