SC to take up, decide audit immunity cases today

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will hear all the petitions regarding state institutions, including the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), claiming immunity from audit of its accounts today (Tuesday) and will also announce a verdict on these petitions.
The apex court was informed that the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has occupied 137 kanals land of the Punjab government and 64 kanals land, which was allotted by a former prime minister for the settlement of dwellers of katchi abadis in Lahore.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, was hearing encroachment of 156 kanals land in Lahore by DHA.
The prosecutor general of Punjab submitted before the court that according to the investigation officer the DHA has occupied 137 canals land of the Punjab government, 64 kanals land which was allotted by former PM Muhammad Khan Junejo for the settlement of katchi abadis residents in Lahore and 15 acres Army diary farm land.
Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, another member of the bench, remarked that if the Punjab government combs the revenue record it would find out that hundreds of kanals land has been encroached.
He said that according to the Constitution, the right on state land shall vest with the Federation and it does not mean the government but 200 million people of Pakistan.
Justice Jawwad observed that should they pass an order that the province proceed under the law. He said it should be cause of great concern for everyone and not only the apex court.
Auditor General Pakistan Rana Asad Ameen informed the court that they have written six letters to the DHA for carrying out the audit of accounts but its management was not cooperating with them. He said that the AGP did not have powers like the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The chief justice recalled that the court had passed judgment that the AGP could audit the accounts of all the statutory bodies.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked that the Constitution is very clear that if some authorities are not cooperating with the AGP then it could come to the apex court. He said that AGP could not run after each organisation for audit of accounts. The court adjourned the hearing till today (Tuesday).