Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Saturday took notice of the multibillion rupee scam in the Employees Old Age Benefit Institute (EOBI) and issued notices to several officials to present themselves before the court on July 1.
According to details, the chief justice issued notices to the attorney general, Ministry of Human Resource Development secretary, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) DG, EOBI chairman and former chairman of the institute, Zafar Iqbal Gondal.
The chief justice took notice on a note of the registrar of the Supreme Court containing details of a TV programme revealing a corruption scandal of over Rs 40 billion in the EOBI.
The note further stated that the programme alleged multibillion rupees corruption in EOBI in the last three years and that Zafar Iqbal Gondal and other officials were involved in the scam. Reportedly, they had invested billions of rupees in the private sector, contrary to rules and without the approval of Board of Trustees and plundering over Rs 40 billion.
The details of the alleged scam in the EOBI included the purchase of plots in DHA, the purchase of Crown Plaza in F-7 Markaz in Islamabad, the purchase of two 4300CC Prados for personal use purchase of two controversial plots in Sukkur; development of the cricket ground; purchase of seven plots from CDA, purchase of 40 kanals and 16 marlas land in Lahore, purchase of four floors of Plaza Hotel in Lahore, construction of a seven star hotel in front of Lahore airport, construction of M-9 Motorway by the EOBI, purchase of land worth Rs 20 million near Karachi airport.
The note concluded that it was obvious that corruption of billion of rupees was involved in the above said projects and purchases due to which loss of more than 40 billion rupees had been caused to the EOBI.
Most of deals had been made without the approval of Board of Trustees in violation of rules and some contrary to court orders.