Rental power firm told to reimburse Rs 970 million with mark-up

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Techno Sahuwal Rental Power Company to reimburse by Friday Rs 970 million advance payment received from the government for power generation, along with mark-up, otherwise, the case will be handed over to FIA.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry with Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday was hearing a suo motu case regarding ''fraud payment of RPPs detected by Nepra and alleged corruption in rental power plants (RPPs) contract''. The Chief Justice also directed the company to make advance payment by today (Friday), if the amount was not deposited in time, the FIA would be asked to lodge an FIR against the company.
"This money belongs to this country and you without doing any work, enjoying the luxuries of life on this," Justice Chaudhry remarked. The bench directed the counsel of Techno Sahuwal Rental Power Company to first deposit the money in the exchequer, as he appeared before the apex court and started arguments in the case.
Khawaja Tariq Rahim, the counsel for Wapda and Pepco apprised the court that Young Gin rental power company has reimbursed Rs 1.26 billion to the government which it received in advance from the government for power generation. The court directed him to furnish certificates of receipt of payment by the government as claimed by the Young Gin Rental Power Company.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, a PLM-N lawmaker informed the court that Pepco is still making advance payments to RPPs with guarantees but the company''s counsel denied the allegation. Hafiz Pirzada, counsel for Kamonki and Reshman Rental Power Plants informed the court that Kamonki Power Plant has started generating 70MW while Reshman Power Plant is generating 1000MW, respectively but both the companies have not been paid their dues until now.
"We don''t want to become party to this matter by giving ruling on it," the Chief Justice responded to the counsel. Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till today (Friday), whereas adjourning the hearing of rest of the cases till January 27.