11-11-2011, 05:41 AM
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[url="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011/11/11/story_11-11-2011_pg1_4"]PR chief admits corruption in purchase of locomotives[/url]
* SC told Rs 28 billion required for rehabilitation of Railways
* CJP says amount enough to establish dept afresh
* Court orders cases of corrupt officials be sent to NAB
ISLAMABAD : The Pakistan Railways (PR) chairman conceded before a two-member Supreme Court bench on Thursday that rules and regulations were violated in purchase of 75 locomotives, which caused huge losses to the national exchequer.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan was hearing a suo motu case about non-payment of salaries and pension to the employees and workers of Pakistan Railways.
In compliance with the courtââ¬â¢s earlier orders, Railways Chairman Javed Ahmad submitted a report containing plan for rehabilitation of the Pakistan Railways. The report stated that Rs 28 billion were required for rehabilitation of the department.
The chief justice noted that the amount suggested by railways top brass for rehabilitation of the department was a big amount, through which a new Railways department could be established.
The court allowed former railway minister Sheikh Rasheed to become a party in the case. Sheikh Rasheed told the court that rules and regulations were relaxed on the intervention of a top personality of the country for purchase of 75 locomotives.
To a court query, the railways chairman admitted that the rules and regulations were violated and relaxed to some extent in purchase of 75 locomotives. ââ¬ÅViolation is a violation, whether it is less or moreââ¬Â, the chief justice noted.
Sheikh Rasheed contended that big shots were involved in the scandal involving the sale of railways scrap on throwaway prices, thus their cases were not being sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The chief justice remarked that no body would be allowed to sell national institutions. He said the cases of the corrupt officials would be sent to NAB. He said that the court had deeply seen and checked the performance of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and now it was the turn of the newly appointed NAB chairman. He said that the NAB chairmanââ¬â¢s performance and reputation would be checked now.
Appearing on a notice, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told the court that Director General Audit had pointed out Rs 500 million losses to the national exchequer due to sale of railways scrap on throwaway prices. The chief justice noted that railways engines would not have gone out of order in a day and inquired whether the forensic audit of railways was conducted. The railways chairman, however, stated that forensic audit was not conducted.
To a query, the chairman stated that a new railways engine costs Rs 300 million. He said that tenders for the purchase of new railways engines were being opened on November 24.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned further hearing for November 23.
Cheers![[Image: beer.gif]](http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/smilies/beer.gif)
[url="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011/11/11/story_11-11-2011_pg1_4"]PR chief admits corruption in purchase of locomotives[/url]
* SC told Rs 28 billion required for rehabilitation of Railways
* CJP says amount enough to establish dept afresh
* Court orders cases of corrupt officials be sent to NAB
ISLAMABAD : The Pakistan Railways (PR) chairman conceded before a two-member Supreme Court bench on Thursday that rules and regulations were violated in purchase of 75 locomotives, which caused huge losses to the national exchequer.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan was hearing a suo motu case about non-payment of salaries and pension to the employees and workers of Pakistan Railways.
In compliance with the courtââ¬â¢s earlier orders, Railways Chairman Javed Ahmad submitted a report containing plan for rehabilitation of the Pakistan Railways. The report stated that Rs 28 billion were required for rehabilitation of the department.
The chief justice noted that the amount suggested by railways top brass for rehabilitation of the department was a big amount, through which a new Railways department could be established.
The court allowed former railway minister Sheikh Rasheed to become a party in the case. Sheikh Rasheed told the court that rules and regulations were relaxed on the intervention of a top personality of the country for purchase of 75 locomotives.
To a court query, the railways chairman admitted that the rules and regulations were violated and relaxed to some extent in purchase of 75 locomotives. ââ¬ÅViolation is a violation, whether it is less or moreââ¬Â, the chief justice noted.
Sheikh Rasheed contended that big shots were involved in the scandal involving the sale of railways scrap on throwaway prices, thus their cases were not being sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The chief justice remarked that no body would be allowed to sell national institutions. He said the cases of the corrupt officials would be sent to NAB. He said that the court had deeply seen and checked the performance of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and now it was the turn of the newly appointed NAB chairman. He said that the NAB chairmanââ¬â¢s performance and reputation would be checked now.
Appearing on a notice, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told the court that Director General Audit had pointed out Rs 500 million losses to the national exchequer due to sale of railways scrap on throwaway prices. The chief justice noted that railways engines would not have gone out of order in a day and inquired whether the forensic audit of railways was conducted. The railways chairman, however, stated that forensic audit was not conducted.
To a query, the chairman stated that a new railways engine costs Rs 300 million. He said that tenders for the purchase of new railways engines were being opened on November 24.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned further hearing for November 23.
Cheers