Daily Times

The Peshawar High Court on Thursday referred the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for investigation.

A division bench of the Peshawar High Court comprising Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth and Justice Mussarat Hilali, while announcing judgment in the much-trumpeted case, directed NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to probe alleged irregularities in the project which has been marred by one delay after another.The court directed the anti-graft body to investigate why the BRT project was not completed on time and why its costs escalated.

“After hearing the arguments at great length, we feel it’s appropriate to refer the matter to NAB authorities for conducting proper investigation due to the fact that 50 per cent scope of the work has been enhanced,” the court order stated.

The PHC, in its detailed verdict, observed that the BRT project was awarded to a firm that was blacklisted in another province, and that the project stood incomplete as of June 24.”The delay, the contract awarding process, feasibility and all the issues relating to the Peshawar Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor (BRT) Project are all shady and shaky,” the order said.

The deadline for completion of the BRT project has been delayed several times. The first deadline was April 20, which was extended by a month to May 20. The then-project director had told media that the civil work would be completed by June 20, which was also missed.The cost of the project, at the same time, has purportedly hiked from Rs49 billion to Rs64 billion.

Earlier this month, NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa asked the Peshawar Development Authority to submit record of the mega project, after NAB Chairman Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal ordered an inquiry into alleged corruption and delay in completion of the BRT project.

Meanwhile, the NAB KP has reportedly forwarded the matter of an inquiry into alleged irregularities in expenses of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House Islamabad to the NAB Headquarters.

The caretaker provincial government had written a letter to the NAB KP seeking an inquiry into alleged financial irregularities in expenses of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, Islamabad.The letter was forwarded to the NAB KP by the provincial administration department on July 10.

Sources said the NAB KP does not have the authority to investigate the matter and hence it has forwarded the provincial government’s letter to its headquarters.The anti-graft body has yet to authorise an officer or its regional or provincial office to investigate the matter.

Published in Daily Times, July 20^th 2018.