The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the plea of seven National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials. They have sought withdrawal of show-cause notices issued for their failure to implement court's order in Rental Power Plants (RPPs) case. A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justices Jawwad S Khawaja and Khilji Arif Hussain heard rental power plants' implementation case.
During the course of proceedings, seven officials of the NAB who were issued show-cause notices over non-observance of court's order on RPPs, appeared and prayed for the withdrawal of notices. Colonel Shahzad Anwar Bhatti (Retd), Director General (DG) NAB, lead investigator in the case, submitted that he and his colleagues could not even think about any defiance of court's orders. However, he sought two months time to complete the investigation. According to him, he is facing manpower shortage.
Rejecting his request for more time, the Chief Justice observed that the court had already given sufficient time, but the NAB had made no progress. Prosecutor General NAB, K K Agha, submitted before the court that so far Rs 2 billion had been recovered whereas the recovery of an additional Rs 3 billion was in the pipeline.
The Chief Justice said that after the court's verdict in the instant case, the NAB should have proceeded against those responsible. He cited Nepra's concern that ten-year-old plants should not be installed to produce energy. However, he added, plants as old as 20 years were installed.
Chief Justice said that whosoever made progress in the instant case would be commended for his job. "We are proceeding in the case with caution and restraint and will insist on observing the law," Justice Jawwad S Khawaja observed. The Court also directed other NAB officials, who were also issued show-cause notices, to engage their counsel. On September 14, Supreme Court issued show-cause notices to Chairman NAB and other officials for not implementing its order. The bench adjourned hearing till October 16 and directed Prosecutor General K K Agha to inform Chairman NAB that he was still under notice and may engage his counsel.