ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday issued directives to Pakistan Railways to send the cases of embezzlement to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after initiating action against corrupt officials who turned national railways into an ailing entity.
It was also directed to take severe action against the offender who purchased bulb for Railways at the rate of Rs 400 for each bulb instead of Rs 7. A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing a suo motu case relating to non-payment of salaries and pensions to employees and workers of Pakistan Railways.
Former Federal Minster for Railways Sheikh Rasheed, Javed Ahmed, Chairman Pakistan Railways, Secretary Railways Board Abdul Shafique and Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq appeared before the court. During the course of hearing, Javed Ahmed, Chairman Pakistan Railways, in pursuance of the court orders, presented a report before the bench explaining the steps taken to make the payment to pensioners through new accounts in the scheduled banks near their residences. According to him, the process will take at least one month.
Ahmed informed the court that a new pension form would be issued to pensioners on November 1 (today) as an advance on account of Eid-ul-Azha, adding that the payment of pension would be made from December, for which new accounts with zero balance would be opened in scheduled banks near their places of residence.
He apprised the bench that a task force has been constituted to repair a total of 46 locomotives out of 360 non-functional engines On the occasion, the CJP directed Chairman and Secretary Railway Board to benefit from Railways technical staff members' expertise instead of people from private sector.
Abdul Shafique, Secretary Railways Board, informed the bench that some mechanics of PR were sent on forced leave for their involvement in illegal activities. According to him, they were later found "enjoying wine" in China. He further said the organisation is facing the brunt of the measures earlier taken by Sheikh Rashid when he was the minister for Railways. He further alleged that Sheikh Rashid introduced 24 new trains with a view to earning fame.
Shiekh Rashid submitted a written statement, wherein he alleged that Sameen Gandapur, a Grade-18 officer and "blue-eyed" of the incumbent Railways Minister has been posted as Chief Purchase officer against a grade 20 post, at the instance of the railways minister to indulge in irregularities. Millions of rupees were spent on the renovation and refurbishment of that officer's bungalow in Mayo Garden, Lahore, he added.
Sheikh further contended that in the Mechanical Department, 12 to 20 qualified mechanics have been sent on forced leave with mala fide intentions so that new engines could be imported. He informed the court that scrap worth Rs 1 billion was sold at the rate of Rs 23,000 per ton against over Rs 50,000 per ton market rate. According to him, the case is now pending with the FIA.
Similarly, he said that Railways is importing 200 coaches from China at a cost which is four times higher than for those produced at carriage factory, Islamabad. He said 20 to 30 coaches were produced at Carriage factory, Islamabad every month and now the workforce has no work to do. Sheikh Rashid alleged that engines are being imported to get commission and kickbacks.
After hearing the Pakistan Railways representatives the bench directed the AGP to obtain complete information regarding corrupt officials of Pakistan Railways involved in the sale of railway scrap on cheap rates and send their cases to NAB.
The AGP was also asked to convene a meeting of the officials of Pakistan Railways for a comprehensive plan to make the organisation functional and submit its report before the court on the next date of hearing. While addressing the AGP, the bench pointed out that there is great potential in various organisations including National Logistic Cell (NLC) and Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) Taxila. Services of technical experts from these organisations could be hired for the repair of faulty locomotives in the larger interest of nation.
However, the authorities were directed to take effective measures to repossess valuable property of PR from the land mafia in Sindh and other parts of the country. During the course of hearing, the Chief Justice while addressing the Chairman Railways said that his dishonest men have destroyed the organisation. The Chief Justice remarked that the country has recently test-fired a new missile. However, the authorities in PR are not able to repair even minor faults in locomotives. The court adjourned the hearing till November 10.