The Supreme Court on Friday directed freezing the bank accounts of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The directions were issued by a three-judge bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed during the hearing in a suo motu case regarding misappropriation of Rs 40 billion in the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI).
The apex court also directed to the counsel for DHA to submit all details of the bank accounts with the Registrar’s Office immediately.
The court also directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to continue its investigation in the scam and to proceed against the culprits involved in the multi-billion rupee embezzlement.
The bench declared that it would announce its final verdict as soon as the FIA completed its investigation for unearthing the facts.
The court ordered the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to gather the details of all transactions of DHA and present it before the bench.
FIA Additional Director General (Legal) Azam Khan apprised the court that no application had yet been received from the EOBI secretary for registering a case.
He further stated that out of eleven deals of EOBI with various companies in Lahore, four housing societies had pledged to return the amount soon.
Counsel for DHA Ahmer Bilal Sufi informed the court that the DHA had paid Rs 10 billion to BahriaTown.
Sufi said it was a joint venture of DHA and BahriaTown and of Rs 40 billion, the DHA had paid Rs 10 billion, thus the authority did not have the amount at the time.
The chief justice objected that how could a government institution be in partnership with a private entity.
Seeking time from the court, Sufi stated that the DHA could only pay back the money by selling its land for which it would need some time.
EOBI Secretary Munir Qureshi told the court that names of officials of the EOBI involved in the scam had been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
Justice Jawwad remarked that putting names on ECL did not serve the purpose and there was a need to lodge FIRs against them.
The DHA said all transactions were completed and the deal was struck per procedures.
The official said 90 percent development of the sold property had been completed and plots were ready for construction. He said funds received from the EOBI had been utilised for purchase and development of land.
He said proper allotment letters were issued to the EOBI, which was a valid document.
He added that the development may be evaluated by NESPAK as suggested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The hearing was later adjourned until July 26.
Ultimately the link would lead to malik Riaz. it is matter of time.
Ultimately the link would lead to generals who taken the help of Malik Riaz and khokar family for land grabbing and extending DHA business. it is matter of time. -.Dha is big land maifa than Malik riaz who just come to aid them to extend their illegal projects through crook civilians deals.
Shame on DHA for being party to robbing the poor old aged beneficiaries of this fund. As for Riaz Malik, he will announce another charity with this looted money and win accolades from many.
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