The Supreme Court (SC) has issued notice to the Attorney General (AG) for providing assistance in reviewing an agreement for purchasing of vehicles for Sindh police from a Serbian company.
A 3-member bench of the SC headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja took up for hearing a petition filed by Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi against the agreement executed by Sindh government to purchase vehicles from Serbia for assistance of police.
The SC remarked: “The Sindh government has worked wonder that it purchased second had and used vehicles at the cost of Rs 1.23 billion instead of purchasing them from trusted local ordinance factories of Pakistan army where they are available at cheaper rate. Notice is issued to AG to assist court next week on this matter as per law and constitution.”
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked ironically: “The Sindh government is very virtuous and promise keeper which has never reneged from its promise ever before. This will be the first time that you will breach the agreement. Therefore, it can not do it because it faces the threat of losing its credibility. What type of contract it is that the thought came overnight and an agreement valuing Rs 1.32 billion was executed early in the morning? Neither the rules and regulations were adhered to nor was any advertisement given for the purchase.”
Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani said: “We can not compromise on protection of life of citizens. We can not allow purchasing goods from abroad at higher cost despite being these goods available at cheaper rates in the country. This is public money. There is difference between the criterion of army and police. The engineers of police can not be at par with army. This is national issue and we want its solution.”
At the inception of hearing, Farooq H Naik appeared on behalf of Sindh government and Irfan Qadir represented police in arms police case.
Justice Jawwad remarked: “How this contract of Rs 500 million has been awarded?”
Irfan Qadir replied: “We are not bound to tell them (court). If this purchase is not transparent, then we are ready to submit reply.” Justice Usmani remarked: “If this quality could become available in Pakistan then why did you import it?” Irfan Qadir said: “Their quality is superior to Pakistan, therefore, arms were imported.”
The justice remarked: “When arms manufactured in your own country can become available at lower rate then why you purchase it from outside the country. Are these arms being used by Pakistan army? If our army is using tanks manufactured in Pakistan then why don’t you obtain them? We want safety of our jawans in terrorism. There are strong objections against you. They are manufacturing B-7, why you don’t purchase such vehicles from them (army)?”
Representing the Sindh government, Farooq H Naik said: “If we don’t purchase vehicles then no one will execute agreement with us. We are bound to abide by this agreement.”
“Vehicles were purchased at the cost of Rs 1.23 billion whereas they were available at the cost of Rs 300 million only. You should take an advice from the army for purchasing these vehicles,” Justice Usmani had said.
Meanwhile, an officer of Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) appeared before the court and said they (police) never contacted them.
The court issued a notice to the AG and adjourned the hearing for one week.