Summary Officials invested more than Rs 40 billion of Employees Old Age Benefit Institute in private sector.
ISLAMABAD (Online) - Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Saturday took notice of corruption scandal of more than Rs 40 billion in Employees Old Age Benefit Institute (EOBI).
The Supreme Court on the orders of Chief Justice issued notices to Attorney General for Pakistan, Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development, DG, FIA, Chairman, EOBI and Zafar Iqbal Gondal, Former Chairman, EOBI to appear before court.
A report had alleged multibillion rupees corruption in EOBI in the last three years and that Zafar Iqbal Gondal, Chairman, DG, Investment and DG, HR etc are involved in the scam.
Reportedly, they have invested billion of rupees in the private sector, contrary to rules and without the approval of Board of Trustees, and thus plundered more than 40 billion rupees.
However, the Government departments remained silent over the multi-billion scam and did not bother to take action in the matter to prevent the culprits from plundering public money and ensure its recovery from them.
The details of some alleged mega scams in the EOBI aired in the said programme are as under: Purchase of Plots in DHA, Purchase of Crown Plaza in F-7 Markaz in Islamabad, Purchase of 4300 cc two Prado cars for personal use, Purchase of two Controversial Plots in Sukkar, Development of Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Purchas of 7 Plots from CDA, Purchase of 40 kanals 16 marlas land in Lahore, Purchase of Four Floors of Plaza/Hotel in Lahore, Construction of 7 Star Hotel in front of Airport in Lahore, Construction of M-9 Motorway by EOBI, Purchase of 20 crore Land near Karachi Airport in 2 billion.
Further, the note states that the Anchor also took a telephone call from Imran Ali Shah, Member, EOBI who verified the above contents and added that there are some more cases of corruption allegedly indulged in by the said Chairman and others.
Member EOBI Imran Ali Shah added that he raised his voice against the said corruption and has even gone to Court for the recovery of the said looted money.
The note concludes that from the above, it is obvious that corruption of multibillion rupees appears to be involved in the above said projects/purchases due to which loss of more than 40 billion rupees has been caused to the EOBI.
It further added that most of the deals have been made without the approval of Board of Trustees, in violation of rules and some contrary to court orders.
The CJ may therefore consider taking suo moto action in the matter under Article 184(3) of the Constitution as it entails violation of Article 9 and 24 of the Constitution.
