The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to produce within two weeks the complete record of 4,000 plots it illegally allotted to some influential people in the settled sectors of the federal capital. A three-member bench comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali was hearing a suo motu notice taken against illegal allotment of 4,000 plots by CDA, causing billions of rupees loss to the national exchequer.
Appearing on notice, CDA’s counsel, Ramzan Chaudhry, sought time to file reply. The court granted the time and adjourned hearing for two weeks. During the preliminary hearing, Justice Javed Iqbal said CDA had even surpassed Pakistan Steel Mills in the race of corruption. He said dozens of officials from various departments poured into CDA on deputation, illegally got plots, sold them on Rs 25 to 30 million and went back to their departments. In allotment of plots, he said, the CDA even violated the rules pertaining to 20 percent quota.
The court directed the CDA to submit a comprehensive report on the records of the allotment and the legality of the process. The court also sought details from the CDA about senior bureaucrats who had got multiple plots allotted. Moreover, the details of the officials serving on deputation who got plots were also sought. According to media reports, CDA illegally allotted 3,192 plots in the settled sectors of Islamabad. These plots worth Rs 70 billion were allotted to different people in posh and settled areas of Islamabad, particularly during the tenure of former CDA chairman Kamran Lashari.
Appoint permanent PSM head, SC tells govt
ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the government to appoint an efficient person as the permanent chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), who must have potential to make the state-owned entity a profitable organisation.
A three-member SC bench of Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali was hearing a suo motu case regarding Rs 22 billion alleged corruption in PSM. The court also directed FIA to expedite efforts for nabbing the accused, including Riaz Laljee, and submit a compliance report in court.
At the outset of hearing, FIA presented an investigation report on the alleged corruption in PSM and submitted that the agency was facing problems in getting information about the accused involved in the scam. The court expressed dissatisfaction over the report, observing that FIA had not made any progress in the investigation so far. Justice Javed Iqbal said FIA’s performance in the investigation remained zero.
In his remarks, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed said FIA was only nabbing poor people and did not dare to lay hands on the influential. Justice Javed Iqbal said that until a permanent chairman of PSM was appointed, the affairs of the state-owned entity would not go on properly. -Masood Rehman
