RPP case: No undertaking can be held out, NAB tells SC

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to re-issue a notice to Karkey Power Ship for Wednesday (today). The apex court said the ship would be allowed to leave Karachi port provided she furnished a bank guarantee against the outstanding amount.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed the hearing of sixth and seventh fortnightly reports over court’s verdict in the RPP case.

The Supreme Court sought an undertaking from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that Karkey would not be allowed to leave Pakistan until the entire outstanding amount was paid.

At the outset of hearing, Prosecutor General NAB K.K Agha submitted that under the provisions of National Accountability Ordinance no undertaking could be given and urged the court to withdraw its order regarding an affidavit over Karkey. Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Irfan Qadir submitted that there would be a critical situation if order of the court for undertaking submission by the NAB on Karkey was not withdrawn. According to him, the Turkish people have great concern over the matter while Turkish premier is currently visiting Pakistan.

He requested the court to withdraw its earlier order in relation to an undertaking over Karkey by the NAB with a view to securing the public interest.

Former Federal Minister for Housing and Works Faisal Saleh Hayat opposed the grant of more time, arguing that the Bureau had violated the court’s orders. He alleged that it had determined less amount to be recovered from an outstanding amount of Rs 24 billion from Karkey.

While bench said in its order that the AGP was directed to instruct the NAB to secure an outstanding amount from Karkey, the Prosecutor General NAB questioned how the AGP could instruct the NAB.

To which, the Chief Justice said, “Let the case be adjourned for tomorrow (November 21) and the NAB is directed to re-issue a notice to Karkey.”