ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had remarked no one was ready to rein in the influential culprits adding corruption amounting to Rs 26 billion had occurred in Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and if the court should let off it .CJP gave these remarks while presiding over a 3-member bench of SC during the course of hearing of suo motu PSM corruption case here Thursday. The other two members of the bench were justice Tariq Parvez and justice Ghulam Rabbani.During the hearing, Fakhar ud Din G Ibrahim counsel for PSM told mill was suffering loss of one billion rupees per month. Due to investigation in steel mills, its production had been reduced to 40 percent.
Mill was incurring loss after the FIR was registered against the contractors. Mill required 200000 tones raw material every month but only 100000 tones material was being provided to it, he told. Even Scotland yard can not trace the white collar crimes, he argued. If the investigation continue then the mills will stand closed down, he added.Expressing resentment over Fakhar ud Din G Ibrahim, CJP said “ Massive corruption of 26 billion has been committed and you want court should let off this case. How many culprits have been arrested by FIA. They may have apprehended some hapless canteen worker or chowkidar”, he observed.DG FIA told there was no provision in FIA rules which empowered it to recover the money. Recovery could be made only under NAB laws, he added.
“Go and arrest the influential accused persons and present the report. All are crying that such a huge corruption has occurred in PSM. We have to protect national wealth and on the other hand we are being asked to stop inquiry”, CJP remarked. DG FIA told assets of 400 million rupees had been freezed in this case.“As to why Abbas group is so important in this case”, CJP asked. Abbas group supplies 20 percent raw material to mill. But purchasing the material at exorbitant rates is not correct”, DG FIA said.
Steel Mills is suffering loss of one billion rupees without any reason, DG FIA said.“The reason behind it is that such people have been inducted there who are not competent. If it is left to only SC to conduct investigations. What the investigation agencies are doing. If FIR has been lodged against former DG FIA and others. Interior ministry constituted its committee and we issued contempt of court notice as to why you are interfering in our affairs. This is a national wealth and we have to protect it ”, CJP observed.“If you don’t make recovery in the embezzlement cases. You are harassing unduly to those persons who are small employees in order to protect big fish”, CJP remarked.The court while adjourning the hearing of the case for one month has sought report from DG FIA – Onlinenews
