A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez heard constitutional petitions titled the Bank of Punjab, NIB Bank, Saith Muhammad Yaqoob, etc versus Haris Steel Industries (Pvt) Ltd & others on Thursday.
According to a press release issued here, petitioners, Members of Board of Directors BOP, NAB, State Bank and respondents were represented by their counsel in the court. Rashdeen Nawaz, counsel for the Bank of Punjab, pointed out that despite clear directions of the court, the properties have not been transferred to the prospective purchasers as per report of the Salvage Committee.
Ahmed Awais, Sr. ASC appearing on behalf of Sheikh Muhammad Afzal, Haris Afzal and Haris Steel Mills stated that compliance of this order shall be made in letter and in spirit. It was further noted that in this regard, if needed, Sheikh Muhammad Afzal, who is in custody in criminal proceedings pending against him before the NAB, shall also be produced before the Court in safe custody.
The counsel for the Bank of Punjab further stated that despite lapse of considerable time, spreading over a period of about three years, the trial of Sheikh Muhammad Afzal and others has not yet commenced. The ADPG NAB, present in Court was directed to expedite the matter and submit Reference before the competent Court on or before February 10; thereafter, the Court seized of the matter was directed to proceed with the case pending against Sheikh Afzal and others by holding day-to-day proceedings, without allowing adjournments unless for unavoidable reasons explained before the Court.
In Civil Miscellaneous Applications No: 1027 & 1812 of 2011, Ahmed Awais, Sr. ASC stated that notice of CMA 1812 of 2011 has already been issued to the Bank as well as to the NAB vide order on July 26, 2011; he requested for issuance of notice to the respondent in CMA 1027 of 2011.
Order accordingly. It was decided that these two applications shall be taken up on the next date of hearing. Makhdoom Ali Khan, Sr. ASC; S.M. Zafar, Sr. ASC; Fakhr-ud-Din G. Ebrahim, Sr. ASC and Anwar Kamal, Sr. ASC stated that in compliance of the order of June 09.06.2011 replies have been filed by the respective parties and they are regularly making payments outstanding against them; however, they also stated that so far no challan has been submitted against them.
Fauzi Zafar, ADPG NAB, stated that he has to seek instructions in this regard. It was observed that since the case is adjourned with regard to the issue of progress in the trial of Sheikh Muhammad Afzal and others, therefore, this aspect of the matter shall be taken up on the next date of hearing, when the ADPG NAB shall make statement in this respect as well and the case was adjourned to a date in office during the week commencing from February 27.-PR
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