SC allowed DHA to withdraw Rs 420 million for employees salaries

27 May, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to withdraw Rs 420 million from the seized account for payment of employees' salaries and utility bills.

The three-member bench of apex court headed by Justice Saqib Nisar resumed hearing of the case regarding multibillion corruption scam in Employees Old-Age Benefit Institute (EOBI).

The court directed the DHA to submit a bank guarantee for permanent revival of Rs 6 billion seized account.

During the course of proceedings, Chairman EOBI informed the court that Board of Trustees has decided to return the purchased properties to their original owners after receiving amount with interest.

Justice Nisar termed it a good omen and directed the counsels of different parties to discuss the matter with their clients. He said that if any party wants to get back property the court would facilitate them and the court would also issue directives to withdraw the cases registered against them.

He remarked that the case registered against EOBI employees would decide the concerned courts.

He observed that if concerned parties failed to reach any consensus then the court would issue proper directives in this regard and the court could also form a judicial commission to investigate the corruption cases.

The counsel for DHA informed the court that DHA was ready to get back the properties because its reputation will be badly affected in the market.

Chairman EOBI informed the court that the institute will also receive 9.5 per cent interest with expenditure after returning purchased properties.

Irfan Qadir counsel for DHA informed the court that DHA sold Rs 22 billion property and it did not agree the EOBI decision to get back the properties to their original owners.

Irfan Qadir pleaded the court to reopen the seized DHA accounts so that the authority can pay utility bills and salaries of the employees.

The court accepted the DHA counsel plea and ordered to release amounts and adjourned hearing for two weeks.

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