Following the interim order of Lahore High Court to look after the issues related to Pakistan Railways Golf and Country Club, the Senate Standing Committee on Railways has summoned National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and formed a three-member committee.
The Senate Standing Committee on Railways met here on Thursday in the chair of Senator Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hassani. The committee was briefed that the manner in which the entire deal was concluded with Maxcorp raises serious concerns, as Maxcorp Consortium had not taken part in the bidding process in 2000 when advertised and had submitted its bid after the deadline. It was also told that the agreement negotiated with the consortium had some significant changes in the original terms and conditions.
Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique during the committee suggested holding the meeting at Royal Palm Golf and Country Club whose legal control is with Pakistan Railways but the managerial control is with Maxcorp Consortium. The committee was told that Pakistan Railways issued several pre-termination notices to the consortium on the breaches committed in the implementation agreement.
Pakistan Railways took a number of legal actions including issuing instructions to IGPR to provide assistance to vacate the premises, formation of a committee for inventory and stocktaking to ensure no damage is done to property, and a letter was written to NAB to recover bank accounts of membership fees.
Meanwhile, Lahore High Court gave an interim order on the petition of the consortium and maintained the status quo for them until further hearings. A three-member finance committee including a representative of PR, lessee and a third party auditor each for running the financial affairs was formed. Details of other cases pertaining to the premises were also provided.
The committee also sought implementation status of committee's recommendations with regard to railways land occupied by Shalimar Hospital in Lahore and Railways land given illegally to DHA Bahawalpur. Members were told by the minister that he had a meeting with Chief Minister Punjab two days ago and the matters will be resolved soon. The committee directed for writing to commissioner for identification and offer of equivalent suitable land to Pakistan Railways in lieu of Railway land measuring 18 acres under occupation of Shalimar Trust Hospital. The senior member Board of Revenue, Punjab, who was not present in the meeting, was instructed to return the money received from DHA for the land and rectify the revenue record that the subject land is owned by Pakistan Railways.