PM Ashraf may be caught in new web
02 October, 2012
ISLAMABAD: After three years of clashes between the judiciary and executive over the non-implementation of NRO judgement, the Supreme Court has now decided to speed up two other cases regarding non-compliance of its judgements in the Rental Power Projects case and illegal appointment of Tauqir Sadiq as OGRA chairman.
Hearing the issue of non-implementation of two of its judgements, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on Monday observed it seems the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was reluctant to take action against influential persons, including the prime minister.
It is to be noted that the court in both judgements had directed NAB to take action against those responsible, including Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, as he was among the five who illegally recommended appointment of Tauqir Sadiq as OGRA chairman, and is also one of the main accused in the misappropriation of RPPs.
The court, on the request of NAB Prosecutor General KK Agha that some time be given to resolve the matter, deferred decision to frame charges against NAB officials, including Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari, for not implementing the court's judgements.
During the proceedings, the NAB PG said the National Accountability Ordinance was the main hurdle in implementing the court judgements. The court, however, expressed dissatisfaction over NAB's progress report, and directed Agha to produce terms of references and proceedings of NAB's executive board meeting regarding investigation into the case to execute the court's judgement in the RPPs case.
"After going through the record and documents, we will pass an order," said the chief justice. "If we are not satisfied with NAB's progress report then we will proceed into the contempt of court case against the NAB chairman and others responsible for non-implementation of our judgement," the short order stated.
Justice Khawaja said it seems NAB was protecting criminals by not initiating legal action against them despite court judgements. He also said the PM was also part of a selection committee that gave illegal recommendation for the appointment of Tauqir Sadiq as OGRA chairman and he had also confessed to illegalities in the RPPs case before the bench. The CJP said criminal proceedings were necessary for establishment of deterrence so that nobody could dare indulge in corruption in future.
The NAB PG argued the court could not interfere in the bureau's investigation and it was NAB's task to examine the allegations. Upon this, the CJP remarked they would not allow NAB to sit on apex court verdicts, and adjourned the hearing until October 16.
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