Haris Steel Mills: SC expresses displeasure over 'sluggish' NAB progress

Mill owner had obtained huge loan from BoP, made investments and purchased properties within the country and abroad.

ISLAMABAD: Expressing displeasure over National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) sluggish progress in the Bank of Punjab (BoP) case, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the bureau to submit a performance report within three days on Sheikh Afzal’s assets - the owner of Haris Steel Mills.

NAB is investigating Haris Steel Mill’s owner Sheikh Afzal, his son Haris, Afzal’s brothers Seth Yaqoob, Seth Munir and Seth Nisar on the orders of the apex court.

The suspects obtained a huge loan from the BoP and made investments and purchased properties within the country and abroad.

A SC bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain resumed hearing of the case here on Monday.

During today’s hearing, Afzal told the court through his counsel that half of the borrowed amount has been paid off to NAB under a plea bargain offer. His counsel further complained that some of his client’s property in Dubai was sold for Rs1.5 billion - half the actual price - and pleaded that the court should order NAB to investigate the matter.

Responding to the complaint, the chief justice remarked that assets cannot be sold without the owner’s consent. He asked NAB to submit details in this regard by October 25.

Another member of the bench, Justice Khawaja stated that the property was secretly sold in Dubai. The counsel denied the claim and said the court can investigate the matter.

Criticising NAB’s performance, Justice Khawaja said how can one expect NAB to investigate matters abroad when it has failed to carry out investigations within the country.

The hearing was adjourned till October 25.