–Rs313 million recovered from Punjab public companies’ officers receiving hefty salaries, NAB tells court
LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday took suo moto notice of private universities across Punjab and directed the advocate general to submit a detailed report on private universities as well as their affiliated colleges in the province.
A three-member bench headed by the chief justice heard the petition regarding degree not being awarded to a student of an affiliate college of the University of South Asia.
During the hearing of the case, a representative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) told the court that the University of South Asia made affiliations with colleges without seeking permission from the authority.
“An institution should not only be awarding the degrees but also have proper teaching staff to educate,” the representative said.
Upon this, the CJP remarked that there are defrauding people in the country and they have ruined the education system. “Since when are these universities operating and how much fees do they charge?” the chief justice asked.
The court then stated that criminal cases should be registered “for opening the campuses against the law”. “I will see who will come for their bail,” the CJP said.
To a court query regarding lack of action against the university, the HEC official submitted that only the provincial higher education department was authorised to take action in this regard.
Subsequently, the bench appointed Advocate Zafar Iqbal Kalanauri and Advocate Uzair Bhandari as amicus curie in the matter and sought a report from them.
The bench also issued notices to all private universities and directed the HEC to also issue notices to them individually and seek their response. It also directed the Punjab advocate general to take up the matter with the governor.
Rs313 MILLION RECOVERED:
Earlier, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) submitted a report in the Supreme Court regarding the suo motu taken on hefty salaries of Punjab public companies’ officials.
It was stated in the report that Rs313 million had been recovered from officers who received high salaries.
NAB DG informed the court that a total of Rs432 million were to be recovered from officers working in these companies, out of which Rs313 million had been returned while Rs118 million was yet to be recovered from 9 officers.
The court then directed the remaining officers to submit their answers on NAB DG’s report and adjourned the hearing.