LAHORE
The Lahore High Courton Mondayissued notices to federal government, Wapda chairman and others on a petition challenging awarding of a contract for “Refurbishment of Mangla Dam” allegedly to a blacklisted French company in violation of rules.
As Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza took up the petition, Advocate Sheraz Zaka on behalf of the petitioner argued that awarding of the contract to “Alstom Hydro” was illegal in terms of clause 59/1 of the contract. The company was a subsidiary of a blacklisted French company Alstom SA, which had been recently indicted by a US court for $770million fine, he added.
The counsel argued that in light of superior court's judgment, a contract of worth $10 billion, involving public money, could not be given to a company whose parent company was debarred or blacklisted. The lawyer asked the court to summon details of the contract and restrain the respondent authorities from awarding the contract to a company which was a subsidiary of a blacklisted company. Justice Mirza heard the arguments and sought replies from the respondents byMay 2.