- Govt-owned companies neglect top court’s order
LAHORE: 17 government-owned companies of Punjab refused to submit the required record in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as part of the Supreme Court’s (SC) order.
Punjab government neglected the top court’s directives of filing the complete record of 56 companies alleged of corruption in the Lahore office of NAB.
Media reports suggested that Lahore NAB DG kept waiting for the submission of record till 10 pm, however, the complete record could not be attained. The apex court had ordered the Punjab govt to submit the record within one day, till 9 pm on Sunday.
The SC will next hear the case on April 14.
On Saturday, SC had directed the government of Punjab to provide the required record of the 56 companies alleged of corruption to NAB.
A two-member Bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar heard a suo motu case pertaining to the alleged corruption worth Rs 80 billion in the 56 government-owned companies of Punjab.
During the proceedings at the Lahore registry, SC directed all relevant officials of Punjab government to provide required record to the anti-graft body by Sunday.
Punjab Advocate General Shakilur Rehman requested the court to give more time, but CJP rejected his plea and directed him to furnish a detailed report regarding the establishment of these companies by the next hearing.
“This is not NAB where you do not present record, it is Supreme Court so you better come up with the record at any cost,”CJP remarked.
“Elections are approaching and who will be answerable if the government is gone,” he added.
“How many officers were appointed with these companies and what are their salaries?” CJP asked the chief secretary.