Supreme Court asks NAB to submit probe details

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Tuesday hearing implementation of Rental Power Projects judgement ordered the National Accountability Bureau to submit all inquiry files of all those against whom the NAB started investigation.A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, comprising Justices Jawwad S Khawaja and Khiliji Arif Hussain, was hearing the show cause notices issued to Chairman NAB for non-implementation of the RPPs judgement. Prosecutor General NAB KK Agha informed the court that sixth and seventh progress report of on the implementation of Rental Power Plants (RPPs) case has been submitted. He said that nothing has been done intentionally to violate the court order.The Chief Justice said: “You (NAB) have to implement the judgment as this is the case of criminal negligence but the Bureau has started its own inquiry, which is not right.” The court had rescinded all RPPs contracts by declaring them illegal and non-transparent on March 30 and directed NAB to proceed against all people who caused billion of rupees loss to national kitty.“Why NAB has not taken action against the then minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf who himself had admitted during the case proceedings that four projects were unsolicited,” the CJP said.Prosecutor General NAB K K Agha apprised the bench that under the provisions of National Accountability Ordinance if somebody returned money voluntarily he must not be prosecuted.The Chief Justice remarked that objective of criminal action is to make deterrence of the crime, adding that law will take its course because nobody is above the law.Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that recovery of $10 million in the instant matter was possible due to court’s orders, saying the court is not meant for becoming investigating authority in the matter but to ascertain the progress case by case.Chief Justice remarked that court had made the case very simple and repeated what barred NAB to proceed against all persons who caused substantial amount of rupees loss to the national exchequer.Addressing the Prosecutor General, the Chief Justice 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 Chairman NAB from appearing before the court. Upon which the Chief Justice said that head of the anti-graft body will appear in the court when required.Later, hearing of the case was adjourned till October 1. 

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