SC reprimands NAB, Suparco over 'non-cooperation' in Bahria Town implementation case

Published January 7, 2019
Justice Azmat Saeed warns NAB, Suparco of contempt of court proceedings.— AFP/File
Justice Azmat Saeed warns NAB, Suparco of contempt of court proceedings.— AFP/File

The Supreme Court on Monday reprimanded the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and the administration of Bahria Town, over what it termed their "non-cooperation" in implementing a ruling of the apex court.

Justice Azmat Saeed, chairing a hearing of the three-member implementation bench on Bahria Town case, warned the respondents that the judges were "about to lose their temperament".

During today's hearing, the judge directed NAB to ensure progress "through its actions".

Justice Saeed asked the NAB prosecutor why didn't the watchdog submit its report on Bahria Town, which it was asked to. "Let us know if you can't follow orders. You were given a time frame of three months but there has been no development so far."

"Sir, this is not the case," the NAB prosecutor pleaded, to which the judge responded: "The fact is that no cooperation has been shown [on the part of NAB]".

The judge highlighted that a separate joint interrogation team has completed its investigations into the Bahria Town case in Karachi, but still, the accountability watchdog did nothing.

"Why don't we take action against the NAB under the contempt of court," the judge said, adding that the court should issue a contempt of court notice to Suparco as it also failed to submit the report it was ordered to file.

Justice Saeed said he knows that the director general of Suparco is a "Major General" and ordered him to appear before the court on the next hearing.

He remarked that the state institutions were not working under the ambit of law. "Even if someone is facing an issue, he is not ready to reveal it," the judge said.

"Tell your client to cooperate with the court," Justice Saeed advised Ali Zafar, the counsel of Bahria Town.

"Malik Riaz will be held responsible for the rights of allottees are affected." The hearing of the case will now resume on Wednesday.

Opinion

Editorial

Bilateral progress
Updated 18 Oct, 2024

Bilateral progress

Dialogue with India should be uninterruptible and should cover all sticking points standing in the way of better ties.
Bracing for impact
18 Oct, 2024

Bracing for impact

CLIMATE change is here to stay. As Pakistan confronts serious structural imbalances, recurring natural calamities ...
Unfair burden
18 Oct, 2024

Unfair burden

THINGS are improving, or so we have been told. Where this statement applies to macroeconomic indicators, it can be...
Successful summit
Updated 17 Oct, 2024

Successful summit

Platforms like SCO present an opportunity for states to set aside narrow differences.
Failed tax target
17 Oct, 2024

Failed tax target

THE government’s plan to document retailers for tax purposes through its ‘voluntary’ Tajir Dost Scheme appears...
More questions
17 Oct, 2024

More questions

THE alleged rape of a student at a private college in Lahore has sparked confusion, social media campaigns, ...