PESHAWAR - The Peshawar High Court on Thursday directed the National Accountability Bureau Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to investigate alleged irregularities, increase in expenditures and delay in the completion of the Bus Rapid Transit project.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth and Justice Mussarat Hilali, while announcing its reserved judgment in a writ petition filed by the JUI-F ex-provincial minister Amanullah Haqani, ordered NAB to probe into the delay, contract awarding process, feasibility and all the issues relating to the BRT project.
Moreover, the court directed NAB authorities to conduct proper investigation regarding transparency of the project and submit its report before September 5 - next date of hearing.
The division bench in its three-page order observed that after hearing arguments at length, it is appropriate to refer the matter to the NAB authorities for conducting proper investigation due to the fact that 50 per cent scope of work has been enhanced and last date for completion of the project was June 24, 2018.
Initially, the court was told that an amount of Rs49.3 billion was approved and at present revised PC-I has been processed for approval with Rs67.9 billion. The court in the order said that the contract has been given to a firm, which was blacklisted in same type of work by other provinces under mala fide intention.
The amount has been collected for this project from different necessary schemes without considering the fact that other projects were also necessary and important,” the court questioned in the order sheet.
The bench also relieved Peshawar Development Authority Director General Israrul Haq as BRT project director and also withdrew the high court earlier order issued on April 24, in which the court had stated that he will continue as project director till completion of the project.
Earlier this month, KP NAB asked the Peshawar Development Authority to submit record of the mega project after NAB Chairman Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal ordered an inquiry into the alleged corruption and delay in completion of the BRT project.
MUQAM SEEKS MORE TIME FROM NAB
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President Amir Muqam on Thursday asked for more time to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a case of possessing assets beyond known sources of income.
The NAB KP had issued a notice to Amir Muqam on July 16 to appear before an investigation team of the bureau on July 19. Instead of appearing before a team of anti-graft body, he requested for more time citing a reason of being busy in his election drive.
Amir Muqam, a former advisor to ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, did not appear owing to his election engagements and would appear after general elections being held on July 25, a spokesman for the NAB said.
Amir Muqam is contesting for two National Assembly constituencies, NA-2 Swat and NA-29 Peshawar, and provincial assembly constituencies PK-2 and PK-4 in Swat.
The NAB has accused Muqam of purchasing properties in Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar. He is also accused of purchasing precious agricultural land in Swat, Shangla and Peshawar, besides having several bank accounts.
Amir Muqam’s wealth and luxurious lifestyle does not match his known income and that is why he has been summoned, the spokesman said.
The NAB KP started the inquiry after NAB Chairman Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal ordered probe against Amir Muqam for making assets beyond his known sources of earning. Mainly his political rivals have accused Amir Muqam of being involved in corruption over the last 15 years and requested the NAB to probe his assets.
Amir Muqam was first summoned to appear before NAB on July 12, however, he remained absent. The bureau then summoned him for the second time on Thursday July 19, but this time he has asked for more time.
NAB ordered to probe Peshawar bus project