The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday reserved its judgment in National Police Foundation land scam case. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry including Justice Ejaz Afzal and Justice Gulzar Ahmed resumed hearing of the NPF land scam case.
Justice Ejaz remarked that plots in NPF were sold out without advertisement in the national dailies. The Chief Justice directed NPF administration to submit complete details of the plots awarded to Police officers and Police Jawans. During the course of proceedings, Ali Zafar appearing on behalf of 17 applicants said that there are total of 11 families on whose behalf I will give arguments.
He informed the court that NPF administration abolished green areas nine months before and allotted the plots. Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked that court would take action if the green areas are abolished. Secretary NPF told the court that these plots were awarded with the consent of the victims. He said that there were 1257 total plots in the scheme out of which 285 plots were awarded to Police officers while 393 plots were allotted to civilians.
The court sought complete list of allottees to whom plots were awarded between 2009 to 2011. The Chief Justice remarked that court had to see transparency in the allotment of plots. He remarked that police jawans who render sacrifices got nothing while the officers managed to get expensive plots. Justice Ejaz observed that the police jawans were kept aside in the allotment of plots. He remarked that government had provided Rs 20 million and these plots were not carved out of your money. No advertisement was given about the plots and were allotted quietly to police officers whom the police foundation wanted to favour. He also observed that it was the mission of NPF to award plots to their family members from the backdoor.
He directed NPF administration to satisfy court that all police jawans were aware of the scheme. The Chief Justice expressing annoyance over the favouritism in the allotment of plots remarked that it was not a private scheme in which both husband and wife got plots. Ali Zaffar advocate informed the court that NPF informed through Telex in 1989 that there was a housing scheme those interested can invest in it.
Justice Ejaz remarked that it was not mentioned in the applications. He also remarked that it is alright if you got the plots through ballot, but wrong if you obtained it through connivance. He said that NPF failed to prove transparency in the case. The Chief Justice remarked, "you filed 17 applications but you have not attached the advertisement with anyone. No proper record including source of income has been attached with the applications".
He said that Police Officers should themselves surrender the plots for the jawans who sacrifice their lives. He also remarked that those imparting lesson of abiding the law to others are defying the law. The court will announce judgement in next few days.