Provide all record to NAB within three days, SC orders Punjab govt

F.P. Report

LAHORE: Supreme Court of Pakistan Saturday directed Punjab government to submit record of 56 public sector companies before National Accountability Bureau (NAB) within three days.

As per details garnered, country’s top court resumed hearing of Punjab companies scandal case here in SC Lahore Registry.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar—during hearing—also instructed head of 56 public sector companies to reimburse additional pay to kitty.

The director general of anti-graft watchdog informed apex court that Punjab govt wasn’t cooperating in Punjab Companies Scandal case. He stated that record of 17 companies was not yet provided to NAB. To this, CJP remarked that Punjab govt would provide record of all companies.

“Billions had been spent but not even a single drop of clean water was produced. We will not allow anyone to misuse tax money of masses”, CJP observed during hearing.

Later, hearing was adjourned while SC summoned implementation report within a week.

Dunya News Investigation Wing had unearthed mammoth irregularities worth over Rs80 bn in financial matters of 56 companies formed by Punjab government back then in 2017.

As per details garnered, Punjab govt had constituted 56 companies under guise of good governance and registered them under Article-42 of Companies Ordinance 1984. Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was inspired by the Turkish model and therefore summoned analysts from the same.

While deliberately turning a blind eye towards similar local companies operating in Pakistan, Sharif-led Punjab govt awarded dozens of contracts to Turkish conglomerates on hefty paybacks.