The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday issued notices to four directors of the Bank of Punjab’s (BoP) Board of Governors who had had obtained Rs 20 billion loans by misusing their authority. The accused have been asked to appear before the court and explain their position. A three-member bench comprising of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Pervaiz and Justice Amir Hani Muslim was hearing the Rs 9 billion scam of Haris Steel Mills. Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq, who was present in the court, said he could not comment on this issue before gathering further information.
The court was informed that the Inquiry Commission’s report, headed by Additional Inspector General of Police Aftab Sultan, found out that four directors – Ijaz Gohar, Fareed Mughis, Khurram Iftikhar and Mian Latif – had obtained a massive loan of Rs 20 billion and thereby violated the Punjab Banking Act 1989.
“Prima facie involvement of four directors can only be determined after a hearing opportunity was provided to them. In addition, the accused were running businessmen so the possibility that they will agree to rectify their faults by paying these amounts cannot be ruled out,” the court noted.
The chief justice said the directors have misused their authority and have indulged in corrupt practices, adding that there should be no discrimination. The Supreme Court on Thursday sought legal opinion from the attorney general over the ex-AGP and incumbent governor Punjab’s statement against Justice (r) Abdul Hameed Dogar for providing relief to Sheikh Afzal who had been accused in Haris Steel Mills case.
The court was informed that the accountability courts, where references have been filed, were not making any progress. Cases were lying pending in lower courts due to one reason or the other.