PHOTO: FILE
A three-member SC bench, headed by CJP Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Atta Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, was hearing a case regarding foreign assets and bank accounts held by Pakistani citizens.
The chief justice lashed out at the State Bank of Pakistan governor and secretary finance for not appearing before the court on Monday and said, “We are hearing a crucial case regarding public welfare but the SBP governor and secretary finance are not even bothered.”
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Justice Nisar inquired, “How much does each newborn owe?”
Irked by non-implementation of apex court docket’s directives regarding the case of overseas assets and bank accounts maintained by Pakistanis, the CJP questioned the quantity of money that each little one owes.
On stashing wealth abroad, the CJP inquired, “Why isn’t investigation being conducted into trillions of dollars laundered to Switzerland?
Justice Nisar said, “Exports are diminishing and imports are increasing. Can no one stop smuggling?
“The number of foreign assets and bank accounts every Pakistani owns must be in the file.”
He requested for all the small prints of loans taken by the finance ministry in the final 10 years and said, “They take loans and leave the children, who are not even born yet, to bear the brunt.”
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On the performance of the last two governments, Justice Nisar said, “Just look at the state of health, education and provision of drinking water.”
During the course of hearing, the CJP dispelled the impression that the apex court had rejected the amnesty scheme. “Who says that we’ve rejected the scheme?”
Justice Bandial asked FBR Chairman Tariq Pasha, “Why don’t you bring the amnesty scheme in the knowledge of the court.”
Pasha remained silence.
The CJP said the SC’s order pertaining to foreign assets and accounts had been enforced in letter and spirit and no one had the right to make a child indebted even before his/her birth.
According to the debt policy statement, every Pakistani man, woman or child owes over Rs57,000 each, which is approximately Rs22,000 more than the per head level when the dissolved PML-N government took over in 2013.
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The court also sought details of foreign loans borrowed by the finance ministers during the last 10 years and the foreign visits they made.
The CJP wondered that no restriction or law was introduced to thwart illegal flight of money abroad. “We want to know the details of every Pakistani who holds foreign assets or accounts,” he remarked.
The CJP asked the FBR chairman about the progress made in the matter of trillions of dollars of Pakistanis lying in Swiss accounts.
The court asked the FBR officials to furnish all the details in the court by midnight.
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