SC seeks NAB record of RPPs verdict implementation
26 September, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Hearing the suo motu case of sixth and seventh progress report of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the implementation of Rental Power Plants (RPPs) case judgement, the Supreme Court has ordered NAB to present all inquiry files in this regard. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry, observed that the court had rescinded all RPP contracts by declaring them illegal and non-transparent on March 30 and directed NAB to proceed against all those people who caused billion of rupees loss to the national kitty. "Why has NAB not taken action against then water and power minister Raja Pervez Ashraf who had admitted during the case proceedings that four projects were unsolicited," the court asked. NAB Prosecutor General KK Agha apprised the bench that under the provisions of the National Accountability Ordinance if somebody returned money voluntarily he should not be prosecuted. To which the CJP said that objective of criminal action was to act as deterrence to crime, adding that law would take its course because nobody was above the law. Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that recovery of $10 million in the instant matter was possible due to court orders, adding that the court was not meant for becoming investigating authority in the matter but to ascertain the progress. Justice Chaudhry said that the court had made the case very simple and repeated what barred NAB from proceeding against all people who caused substantial loss to the national exchequer. Addressing the NAB prosecutor general, he said, "You are under notice now. The court will start hearing in the matter by case to case after getting inquiry files from you. We will recover money from Karkey and Walter so bring the files tomorrow." The prosecutor general sought time to arrange the files and also prayed to grant exemption to the NAB chairman from appearing before the court. Later, the hearing was adjourned until October 1. End.
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