Supreme Court tells BoP to move accountability court for attachment of HSI property

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Bank of Punjab (BoP) to follow the relevant law and approach the accountability court for attachment of property of Rs 9 billion defaulter - Haris Steel Industries (HSI).
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to join hands for acceleration of efforts to bring back Hamesh Khan, former president of BoP from the US and Sheikh Afzal and Haris Afzal of HSI from Malaysia.
"Bringing the fugitives back would send the message across the board that culprits are not safe wherever they are in the world, if they have looted national exchequer," the Chief Justice observed.
A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja passed the order and pinned hopes on the FIA for extradition. Tariq Khosa, DG, FIA appeared before the court and apprised that the agency held a meeting with the Interpol in Singapore to nab the culprits and efforts have been intensified in this regard, he added.
Lamenting the poor performance for extradition of Rs 12 billion loan defaulters, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja observed that 'we are running after Kerry-Lugar Bill for financial assistance of $1.5 billion but are oblivious of our own money (Rs 12 billion default) which amounts to almost 17 percent of the bill." Khawaja Haris counsel for the BoP informed the court that he had presented the list of properties of Sheikh Afzal unearthed in Malaysia and UAE to the Legal Advisor of the Foreign Office (FO).
The court also directed the FO to take appropriate steps for seizing the properties of the absconders. Khawaja Haris also requested the court to allow the bank for auction of moveable properties in custody of the bank that include expensive cars, ornaments, etc.
The court, however, denied permission for the auction saying until it reaches any decision, complainant as well as culprit is equal before the law, adding that the court can allow the auction of merely perishable objects. The court adjourned the hearing for October 19.