Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Wednesday said legislating, not gathering funds, was the job of elected representatives.
The CJP gave these remarks while heading a three-member bench hearing the Balochistan unrest case.
Aman Ullah Kanrani appeared on behalf of the Balochistan government, while Iftikhar Gilani and others represented the petitioner.
A report regarding development funds for Balochistan was presented in the court, however, the court expressed dissatisfaction over the findings.
Iftikhar Gilani appeared on behalf of the government of Balochistan when the hearing of case with reference to uplift schemes of Balochistan began.
Gilani took the plea that all schemes were of an individual nature.
Justice Gulzar remarked that law was not kept in view while awarding contracts, while Justice Azmat Saeed observed “criminal negligence has been committed in the province per report of Balochistan officer”.
Gilani said, “We have filed the report. Whosoever is involved should be proceeded against.”
The CJP inquired how development schemes were allocated to elected representatives.
Justice Gulzar said about Rs 250 million were provided from development funds and it was known to every one.
“Legislating is job of elected representatives, not obtaining funds. We can assign NAB to investigate into these projects,” the CJP said.
Gilani said that in most cases, parliamentarians used funds for their own interests.
The CJP said the people of Balochistan were suffering from sense of deprivation, therefore, and the situation in the province was not good. “Public deprivations are the root causes of ills in Balochistan.”
Gilani said billions of rupees were being embezzled. “This is an opportune time for the government to control the situation before the installation of next government and the court should assist it. Besides discretionary funds, licenses, quota and several other quotas are given to parliamentarians.”
Justice Azmat said, “The practice was started in Ziaul Haq’s rule after 1985. List of the persons be provided to us against whom the action has been initiated for misuse of funds.”
The CJP remarked, “There are only a few persons who are enjoying. Where has the amount provided under NFC Award gone? No drinking water or medicine is available to the people of Balochistan. Bribery is rampant in matters of transfer and jobs. Only money matters in Balochistan. The province should have been more developed than others on basis of the amount of money provided to it for development.”
The CJP said, “Even a single penny of public wealth cannot be embezzled. Cases have been referred to NAB and police. Ask them what has been done about these cases and inform the court thereof. Withholding the amount is wrong. MPAs should only inform about the projects related to their respective constituencies and funds be not given to them.”
