The Supreme Court on Monday granted ten days to the Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for probing alleged Rs 40 billion Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) scam. A three-member bench of apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard a suo motu case and sought a report within ten days from FIA.
"Go ahead and eliminate the menace of corruption to save the national kitty without influence in any manner from any rank, position or political pressure because the national kitty was looted of substantial amount," the Chief Justice said while directing DG FIA Saud Ahmed Mirza.
The court asked him to proceed immediately forthwith to conduct inquiry in all the 18 transactions made in the instant case, admitted by Secretary EOBI. The court also directed Secretary Interior to strengthen the investigation in the matter by allowing any officials within or outside of FIA and effective measures be taken for completing the probe.
Appearing on court''s notice, Secretary EOBI Abdul Khaliq submitted a report and placed on record a list of 18 transactions allegedly made without following PPRA rules. The Chief Justice had taken a suo motu notice on a note of the Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan that contained the details of a TV programme televised on June 27, 2013 revealing the corruption scandal of more than 40 billion rupees in the EOBI. Notices were issued to Attorney General for Pakistan, Secretary Ministry of Human Resource Development, DG FIA, Chairman EOBI and former Chairman EOBI, Zafar Iqbal Gondal to appear before the court on July 01, 2013. The hearing of case was adjourned till July 12.