–Judge Arshad Malik says SC has ordered conclusion of Nawaz Sharif’s cases by Nov 17 therefore Nandipur hearing will be conducted on Nov 26
ISLAMABAD: The accountability court hearing the Nandipur Power Project reference on Wednesday announced that it will hear the case after concluding the two corruption cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik made the announcement while hearing the Nandipur reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan and former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
“The court is busy with the references against Nawaz Sharif as the Supreme Court has directed us to conclude the cases by Nov 17,” remarked the judge.
A response with regards to Babar Awan’s acquittal plea was also submitted by NAB.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Pervez Ashraf has also been exempted by the court from personal appearance till indictment.
Further, indictment of Awan along with five other accused was also delayed by the court. Hearing over the case was then adjourned for Nov 26.
October 24 was previously set as the date of indictment by the court.
The hearing of the case was then adjourned till November 26.
The accountability court on Monday had also announced that it will hear NAB reference against former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani as well.
Last month, NAB filed a corruption reference against Awan and Ashraf regarding a delay in the Nandipur power project. The reference was filed after a Supreme Court-constituted commission held Ministry of Law and Justice officials responsible for the delay.
THE CASE:
As per details, “the Nandipur Power Project was approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in December 2007 at a cost of US $329 million.”
Following the approval, a contract was signed in 2008 between Northern Power Generation Company Limited (NPGCL) and Dong Fang Electric Corporation (DEC), China.
Furthermore, two consortium i.e. COFACE for 69 million euros and SINOSURE for US $150 million were established for financing of the project.
The Ministry of Water and Power approached the Law Ministry to issue the legal opinion as per schedule of agreement in July 2009, but the accused in connivance with each other and with malafide intentions repeatedly refused to issue on flimsy grounds.
Furthermore, the Water and Power Ministry failed to take any concrete measures to resolve the issue, and the matter was left pending.
Following a change in guards at the Law Ministry when Babar Awan replaced, the same legal opinion was issued in November 2011. Thus, the delay caused a huge loss to the National Exchequer for about Rs27 billion approximately.
During the investigation, it was established that the accused failed to exercise their authority and caused a huge loss to the National Exchequer. Hence, committing the Offense(s) of corruption and corrupt practice, as defined u/s 9 (a) (vi) and (xii) with Sr 5 of Schedule Offences of NAO 1999.
