ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has directed Lahore High Court to hear and decide the petitions on merit against former Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani and others in the medical scam.
The Chief Justice heard the appeal of Advocate Colonel (retd) Inam-ur-Rahim against SC registrar for returning a constitutional petition against former Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani in medical scam in the chamber.
Colonel (retd) Inam informed the Chief Justice that senior hierarchy including the former secretary defense, CoAS and corps commanders were involved in mega scam of manufacturing and supplying of spurious medicines.
He said the case was filed in the Lahore High Court on February 19, 2015, however it could not be heard for 19 months due to powerful mafia. Justice Furrakh Irfan on 19-09-2017 provided final opportunity to the respondents even then no body appeared before the court.
Kiyani is accused of disbanding a legally established Armed Forces Medical Store Depot, as well as manufacturing, supplying and procuring substandard and spurious medicines.
The petition requested the court to issue directives for a complete audit of the medical store tendered, purchased and procured by the improperly established depots at 27 Combined Military Hospitals (CMHs).
However, the apex court registrar returned the petition, raising objections over it. Later, the petitioner filed an appeal against the registrar office.
The applicant contended that the matter could not be decided in LHC for around three years as neither did anyone appear on behalf of the Defense Ministry, nor was a reply submitted in the relevant court.
