SC summons Faisal Saleh Hayat

SC summons former interior minister for an explanation regarding the alleged corruption in rental power projects.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday summoned former interior minister and senior PML-Q leader Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat for an explanation regarding the alleged corruption in rental power projects causing losses of billions of rupees.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry also issued notices to secretary finance, secretary water and power, MD Pepco, chairman Wapda and all rental power companies to appear before the court on October 4.

“There are serious allegations of corruption in the rental power projects,” Chief Justice Ifikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed while hearing a suo motu case regarding an increase in power tariffs and rental power projects.

Senior Advocate Khawaja Tariq Rahim, the counsel for Pepco and the ministry of water and power submitted a 1,000-page detailed reply to the court, saying he had answered all the questions raised by the SC as well as quashed allegations levelled by Faisal Saleh Hayat in the purchase of rental power projects.

“It is out of context; whoever raised these objections must be summoned by the court. They must be here, including TV anchors, to place evidence before the court,” Rahim requested the CJ, adding, “I have placed the entire record and replies”.

Two rental power projects namely, Pakistan Power Resource, Multan and Guddu have signed off, therefore, we have sued them for Rs190 million for breaching the agreement and causing a huge loss to the national exchequer, Rahim informed the court.

While giving details about the rental power projects, he submitted that there are only 10 power projects in the country. The Reshman Power Project is the only one which is still in the pipeline and will be operational soon. However, three are ready for use, he told the court.

At this point, Anwar Kamal’s advocate intervened and informed the court that the Techno E Power Project, which according to Khawaja Tariq is producing 62 megawatts, is actually producing none and has been shut off for months.

The Techno E Power Project was made operational only for a test run and it was later shut down, Kamal claimed, adding that this was the reason he was withdrawing (from representing Pepco and power distribution companies) because he could not assist the court on such false claims.

The chief justice also directed him to appear for the next hearing to assist the court and adjourned the hearing till October 4.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2010.