Hearing into alleged $5b embezzlement case today

MANSEHRA: The apex court would take up today (Monday) the suo moto notice taken by the chief justice in alleged embezzlement of $5 billion financial assistance extended by international community for rehabilitation of survivors of the October 8, 2005 earthquake.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar had taken the suo moto notice on a written application moved by a social activist from Mansehra and Sheeraz Mehmood Qureshi, last month.

He had alleged that financial assistance extended by the international community for settlement of survivors was drastically embezzled and survivors were still living a miserable life in makeshift arrangements in Balakot.

District and Sessions Judge, Mansehra, Mohammad Zeb Khan, who was appointed an inquiry officer by the apex court would submit his finding about the delay in reconstruction of King Abdullah Teaching Hospital Mansehra, tehsil hospital Balakot and New Balakot City housing project being developed with an estimated cost of Rs13 billion for the settlement of Red Zone (Balakot) survivors. The judge had visited all those schemes earlier this month.