Supreme Court seeks Royal Palm Golf club report in 15 days

The court also summons officials concerned on next date of hearing

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Pakistan Railways to submit lease bidding plan and accounts details of the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club Lahore in 15 days.

The court also summoned officials concerned on next date of hearing.

A three-member bench of the court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the matter regarding implementation of the court order for leasing out of the premises of Old Railways Golf Club.

During the course of proceedings, Justice Bandial asked the railways counsel “whether the management had to run the railways or the golf club”. He said the bidding process should be started immediately.

Justice Ahsan said the auditor report had made serious accusations against the former administration.

Barrister Ali Zafar, counsel for the former management, said that his client would answer all allegations. He alleged that the audit report was biased.

The counsel said the railways neither submit accounts details nor started the bidding process after taking the control of club. He said: “The railways administration did not obey the court”.

41 biometric machines for railway workshops

Justice Bandial said that after the allegations in the audit, the former administration might not even be included in the bidding process.

The counsel for the railways said the previous administration hired the Ferguson Company for audit of the club. He added the railways could not conduct audit of the club as the former administration did not provide details of accounts. Zafar said that all records were with the railways administration.

Justice Bandial asked the counsel for railways to file a case for a missing record.

Railways DG for accounts told the court that the former administration did not submit complete accounts details, which has caused delay in forensic audit of the accounts. However, four-month details of railways is available, he added.

To this, Justice Ahsan asked the lawyer to provide details of records not received to the court, which would later issue appropriate order. “Railways [officials] are sleeping,” said Justice Ahsan
NAB Prosecutor Nayyar Rizvi said that the accountability watchdog had also filed a reference over the matter and 17 accused were named in the reference.

The court directed the NAB to continue its proceedings against the reference. The court dismissed the railways report, sought new report and adjourned hearing for two weeks.