LAHORE: The Supreme Court has referred the matter of corruption and mismanagement of 56 public sector companies to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and gave it 10 days to submit report.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar passed the order while heading a three-member bench seized with the hearing of multiple suo motu notices at the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry.
“NAB should file reference if it is needed in the matter,” the CJP remarked, adding that the court would order recovery of the money if anyone refuses to return it. Complying with the court orders, chief executive officers of public sector companies appeared before the court on Sunday. Punjab Chief Secretary Akbar Khan Durrani and NAB Lahore DG Shehzad Saleem were also present.
During the proceedings, the CEOs told the bench that their appointment was made on merit but the CJP expressed dissatisfaction with their stance and rejected it. The top judge directed all those officials drawing Rs300,000 and more than this to appear before the NAB. The CJP expressed serious concerns over payment of Rs1.1 million salary to some CEOs, observing that what experience they had to hold such posts.
“It is strange that it is the same contractor who has been given the contract of Orange Line, fast track and other projects,” CJP Nisar said, questioning transparency of the contract of the above said projects.
“Nobody cares about the public money and if anyone refuses to return then we know how to get it recovered,” he remarked. The chief justice directed the NAB to move reference if the reference was needed in any matter.
