The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered that invitations be sent out for tenders worth Rs 2 billion once again with regards to the construction of its new building.
The court has ordered the Ministry of Housing to complete the entire process in transparent manner within 45 days in line with PEPRA rules and file report thereof before it.
A two-member bench of the IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amir Farooq took up for hearing a petition filed by the Gondal Construction company on Wednesday.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked during the hearing of the case that clear irregularities have been found in the tenders for new building of IHC. It is evident from the inquiry report presented in the court that conflict between officers of PWD and Ministry of Housing has complicated the matters.
Counsel for Gondal Construction Company told the court 13 companies had participated in the tendering process of new building of high court and three among them were short-listed. Gondal Construction Company had challenged the tenders offered for new building in IHC, which was rejected by single bench of the respective high court. Later an appeal was filed against this decision. Committee was constituted under the orders of the IHC to probe into tendering process for new building of high court. Its report has also been filed in IHC.
He further told the court that the tender was awarded by the PWD to the construction company during the course of holding of inquiry in defiance of Pakistan engineering council and PEPRA rules.
The court ordered Ministry of Housing and PWD that the tender already given for the new building of high court be re-tendered as per the rules of Pakistan engineering council and PEPRA along with advertisements in newspapers.
The court further ordered that the whole process be completed within 45 days and the parties should file their final reports thereof before it.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case for one and half month.