CJ vows to show zero tolerance to corruption

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Thursday expressed concern over the rampant corruption causing decay in the society but vowed to show zero tolerance to the menace.

The observation came during the proceedings of Rs9 billion Bank of Punjab (BoP) scam.

The three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Mohammad Sair Ali and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja was surprised at the way the Lahore-based Haris Steel Industry obtained huge amount from the bank against inadequate collateral.

The court was studying comparative evaluation of mortgaged properties both by the Haris Steels as well as by the Punjab government.

However, the court adjourned the proceedings for July 21, and ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Police and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) not to arrest or harass any fugitive if they return on their own.

Former president BoP and principal accused Hamesh Khan and Sheikh Mohammad Afzal, Director Haris Steels along with his son had managed to escape and now live in the US and the UK respectively.

This is the last opportunity for the absconders to appear before the court on the next hearing after which every mode including contact with Interpol and respective countries would be made for extraditing the absconders, the chief justice observed.

Advocate Khawaja Haris appeared as counsel for the BoP whereas Talib Rizvi represented Hamesh Khan and Uzair Bihandari represented the steel industry. Advocate General Punjab, Mohammad Raza Farooq and Deputy Attorney General Shah Khawar also appeared before the court.

In compliance with the court orders, Raza Farooq submitted evaluation report of the mortgaged properties and revealed that the value of the properties was about 60 to 80 times less than what was being claimed by the steel industry at which the court also expressed its displeasure.

DAG Shah Khawar also submitted a report by the DG, FIA regarding action taken against Hamesh Khan and officials who facilitated him to flee the country despite being on the Exit Control List.

On July 15, the report said, contact was established with Interpol, Washington for the fugitive’s extradition. Similarly, the Ministry of Interior had also cancelled his passport.

Shah Khawar told the court that Pakistan had an extradition treaty with the US but in case of the United Kingdom extradition requests could be processed in cases not involving death.

Talib Rizvi and Zulfiqar Maluka, counsels for absconders (Hamesh Khan and Sheikh Afzal) kept on pressing the court to grant a month’s time for their return but failed to convince the court. They also conceded for not having contact or information about the locations of their clients.

Khawaja Haris informed the court about 129 additional properties owned by the defaulters and requested the court to replace them with the securities (mortgaged properties). Accepting the proposal, the court called for the record of all properties on the next date of hearing. link....