Conclusion of power projects’ contracts: Govt asked to identify those who caused delay

KHUDAYAR MOHLA

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the government to assign ‘responsibility’ to those who caused delay in concluding the contracts of Nandipur and Chichokimallian, which affected national exchequer adversely.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Tariq Parvez issued the directives while hearing a petition to ascertain the factors caused in the delay in contracts of both the projects. The petition has been filed by Khawaja Muhammad Asif who made the Federation of Pakistan and others respondents.

Hearing a suo motu case on the Rental Power Plants (RPP), the Supreme Court (SC) had formed a Justice Rehmat Hussain Jafri-led commission to investigate factors behind the delay in realisation of contracts on both the projects. The commission report disclosed that national kitty suffered a loss of Rs113 billion due to delay in execution of contracts relating to Nandipur and Chichokimallian.

During the hearing, those who appeared before the bench in the instant matter included Khawaja Tariq Rahim, counsel for Ministry of Water and Power, Dr Khalid Ranjah, counsel for the federal Ministry of Law, and Deputy Attorney General Shafi Muhammad Chandio.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry emphasized the need of fixing responsibility on those who were holding the charge during the time when the process in relation to finalisation of Nandipur and Chichukimalian power projects’ contracts was delayed.

Dr Ranjah sought time from the bench, saying that he intended to file objections against the report during the next date of hearing. The bench repeatedly asked the counsel to fix responsibility on those who were behind the delay in the issuance of contracts of both the power projects and submit a report during the next date of hearing.

Registrar Supreme Court office issued a certified copy of the order of the apex court in the petition on April 24, 2012 to Secretary Ministry of Water and Power and others to issue notices to file their objections, if any, in the matter till May 11.  Later on the bench adjourned hearing of the case for two weeks.