Rs 80 billion corruption case in 56 companies of Punjab: LHC seeks reply from Punjab government
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Lahore - Lahore High Court has directed Punjab government to submit its reply in a petition challenging the provincial government’s decision to handover the probe of Rs 80 billion alleged corruption in 56 companies of Punjab government to an enquiry committee instead of to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Arguing his case before Justice Shahid Kareem the petitioner’s counsel said that the mega Rs 80 billion corruption in 56 companies formed by the Punjab government has caused irreparable loss to the national treasury.
The officials of these 56 companies are paid fat salaries and perks running hundreds of thousands of rupees but instead of handing over the investigation to NAB and FIA on the direction of Chief Minister Punjab the probe has been handed over to an enquiry committee which is unlawful because under the law chief minister Punjab has no powers to conduct the enquiry personally.
In addition, these 56 companies are under chief minister Punjab and thus his direction to form an enquiry committee to probe the mega corruption in these 56 companies run by the Punjab government is akin to sweeping the dirt under the carpet and also an attempt to using the powers of investigation agencies.
Directing the Punjab government to submit its reply on or before next date of hearing the Court adjourned the hearing of the case till November 6.
