The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to carry out unhindered investigation against the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) officials, who misused Rs2.5 billion from Staff Welfare Fund of the bank.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing a petition filed by Sayed Jahangir, Trade Union Foundation of NBP Secretary General, under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution.
The judges observed that as the court did not pass any order for staying the investigation, the FIA had no authority to stop the investigation. At the outset of hearing, Hashmat Ali Habib, counsel for the petitioners, informed the court that the FIA had stopped investigation into the matter.
The chief justice said the delay in registration of cases against the accused indicated that FIA was under pressure. If cases had been registered cases and action was started against the accused officials, the court had no need to indulge in the matter.
Meanwhile, the court was informed that Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, counsel for the NBP, was not available due to the summer vacations of the court; therefore, hearing should be adjourned after which the court accepted the request and adjourned further hearing for three weeks.
On last hearing, the court had issued notices to the NBP management as well as its 16 directors who were illegally given million of rupees as achievement award from the Staff Welfare Fund, meant for the bank’s employees. The court had directed the FIA to register cases against the NBP officials who misused Rs2.5 billion from Staff Welfare Fund of the bank on the name of achievement award and summoned complete record of the meeting, held for the purpose.
A total of 16 senior executive members including NBP president were given such awards. These officials included Qammar Hussain, Syed Ali Raza, Masood Karim Sheikh, Amer Siddique, Shahid Anwar Khan, Mirza Abrar Baig, Asif A Brohi, Nusrat Voha, Ziaullah Khan, Imam Bux Balouch, Tahir Yaqoob, Khurshid Maqsood Ali, Ekhlaq Ahmed, Tajammul A. Bukhari, Nadeem A. Ilyas and Amer Sattar.
According to the FIA, more than Rs2.5 billion was embezzled in the NBP’s Staff Welfare Fund. Out of the said amount, Rs330 million were distributed among the NBP officers, whereas the remaining amount was given to the lower staff.
