Daily Times

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday criticised the National Disaster Management Authority’s failure to ensure transparency in expenditures pertaining to coronavirus pandemic and the locust control.

A five-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the coronavirus suo moto case, during which the top judge suggested abolishing the NDMA over the authority’s failure to explain its expenses. “The NDMA has yet to submit crucial documents,” observed the CJP. “Where are the documents permitting imports of machinery from Al-Hafeez Crystoplast (Pvt) Ltd?” he asked, and also inquired why the documents have not been submitted despite directives being issued thrice in this regard. “Where are the details pertaining to chartering the aircraft and its payments,” he asked further.

Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan asked NDMA to inform that which banking channel was used to import machinery from China. “How much duty was paid for machinery imported from China,” he asked.

The chief justice said that it is unknown that who owns Al-Hafeez Company. He observed that the report submitted by NDMA mentioned General Cargo in its report. Commissioner duty had its own tariff, he added. The chief justice asked where were the documents of income tax, sales tax of machinery imported from China? The NDMA representative explained that Rs 323,000 were paid in duties. The chief justice said that it was a matter of law enforcement.

The director of NDMA maintained before the court that the authority did not import machines from Al-Hafeez company. The owner of the company has yet to appear, noted the CJP. The real issue is non-compliance with customs and other laws, he remarked.

Meanwhile, Justice Ijazul Hasan noted that the cost of the machinery has not been disclosed in the documents. “Over Rs10.7 million was paid for the charter,” observed the CJP. “How were the payments made according to the charter agreement,” he asked. “How can someone give this much cash in Karachi,” he further asked. “Where are the documents pertaining to imports of vaccine and the medicines,” he asked.

The CJP observed that it appears that the NDMA will have to be abolished as its chief has failed to provide explanations. “Perhaps a lot has gone wrong and attempts are being made to cover up,” observed the CJP. “Should contempt of court notices be issued to the NDMA chief,” he asked. “The institutions of the country should be run in a transparent manner,” he said.

“The NDMA was given a free hand and hefty amounts to deal with the coronavirus pandemic,” said Justice Hasan. “The authority is answerable to the court and the people,” he added.

The NDMA is acquiring planes and machinery for locust control, noted the CJP. “Transparency will have to be ensured through documents and not just verbal statements,” he remarked, adding that it was not comprehensible how billions of rupees were being spent. “From coronavirus to floods to locusts, everything has been handed over to the NDMA,” remarked Justice Hasan. “But the NDMA’s admin member himself does not know anything,” he added.

The chief justice said that the NDMA imported the vaccine with the permission of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) but it was not disclosed who imported it. He asked the attorney general where were the vaccine import documents?