ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reopened the Nandipur power project corruption case by accepting the plea filed by leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khawaja Mohammad Asif.
Nandipur power project was established in 2005 to generate 525 megawatts of electricity. It was estimated to cost Rs22 billion but it went up to Rs58 billion due to delays.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the case while petition and former minister for water and power division, Khawaja Asif, was also present during the hearing.
The top judge asked Asif why he had failed to resolve the issue despite having a position of a federal minister, to which, the former minister said that he had been removed from the case owing to conflict of interest, local media reported.
The chief justice further asked if he had initiated any probe into the matter. Asif said that a commission, headed by Justice (retd) Rehmat Hussain Jafri, was formed at that time. “An order was passed to complete the Nandipur project and Chichonki Malian Hydropower Plant (CMHPP),” Asif recalled.
Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan remarked that the plea was filed seven years ago in 2011. The chief justice then asked, “What do you [Asif] want this court to take up in this matter?”
The former minister briefed the court that the power plant has been worked under the government for the past five years, adding that it was not given in private control.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/nab-orders-investigation-against-corruption-in-nandipur-power-project/
Asif reiterated his allegation that a person of the law ministry caused delay in the project, adding that the commission that was setup to ensure completion of the project had admitted the delay and had increased the cost of the project.
After hearing the arguments, the chief justice issued notice to federal government, WAPDA and PEPCO, announcing that the case will be heard tomorrow.
