Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Wednesday left for Balakot to review the rehabilitation work.
While hearing a suo motu case of alleged embezzlement of about $5 billion financial assistance extended by the international community for rehabilitation of 2005 earthquake survivors.
During the hearing, an official of the ERRA informed the court the authority was facing difficult in getting ownership of the land, adding that the project will be completed in two year if land is provided.
To which, CJP Nisar remarked if the victims will leave without roof until the project is completed. He observed that the former finance minister Ishaq Dar should appear before the court to explain the utilization of the funds. He also remarked that spending funds of earthquake victims on other projects was a crime.
A representative of the ERRA informed the court that the authority need additional Rs37 billion to complete the projects. He further said that that the federal government released Rs 1.9 billion funds while the donors released Rs 100 billion. He added that Rs 5.3 billion have been spent in these projects since 2006.
The chief justice also asked secretary finance Arif Ahmed Khan about the funds, saying whether the funds were added to national exchequer or not.
Khan replied that the funds for development projects were released on yearly basis. Responding to another question, the secretary said that Pakistan received $2.89 billion funds for donors but denied possessing the funds record.
After hearing the arguments, the top court judge announced to visit Balakot to review the rehabilitation work.
On March 19, Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar has taken suo motu notice of alleged embezzlement in over $5 billion financial assistance extended by the international community for rehabilitation of the survivors of the devastating earthquake of 2005.
