ISLAMABAD Terming Haris Steel Mills case as an example for other cases being preceded in the Supreme Court to curb the money looters, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has directed authorities concerned to arrest Sheikh Nisar, an absconder in Rs 9 billion Bank of Punjab (BoP) scam case. It is the duty of the courts to recover the looted money and imprison the looters, the Chief Justice said. He also said that all the parties of BoP case should negotiate the matter and reach up to the logical conclusion, as the process of property and assets recovery from the custody of respondents was in finishing touch. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by the Chief Justice, on Friday observed that the under proceedings case had set an example for those who grabbed public money and then fled to other countries. Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Ghulam Rabbani were the other judges of the bench. During the course of proceedings, the mutual report prepared by the NAB, BoP, FIA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was presented before the court. The assets of Rs 5,612 million have been handed over to BoP while assets of some Rs 460 million have been traced out but yet to be recovered, the 11 pages report said. The report is also available with TheNation. The 14 accused have been released on interim bail in respect of pre-bargaining while 3 persons have not been arrested so far, the report added. Meanwhile, the NAB officials told the court that two officials of NAB along with officials of BoP and respondents, if it needed, would visit UAE and Malaysia to take the assets of respondents in their own custody. The Investigation Officer NAB, Aftab Ahmad, will head the team and present the report before the court by April 7. The team will hold consultations with anti-corruption authorities for the purpose of ascertaining and adopting the quickest possible mode for retrieving of bank assets from the UAE and Malaysia, they further said. Besides, the learned counsels informed the court that the extradition of Hamesh Khan, main accused in BoP case, from the United States would depend on his case proceedings being conducted on 17th March. If Hamesh contests the case in US, his extradition will require some time, the learned counsels further informed. Khawaja Haris, counsel for BoP, also informed the court that the suggestions had also been floated for enhanced cooperation among NAB, BoP, FIA and Foreign Ministry for the recovery of the whole amount besides repatriation of Hamesh Khan from the US. Earlier, Hameshs lawyer seeking courts directions in early repatriation of his client from the US informed the apex court that his client wanted to join investigations in Pakistan. The Chief Justice again praised NAB Investigation Officer Aftab Ahmad on conducting thorough investigation and assisting the court as a thorough noble and professional officer in the whole process. Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing till 7th April.