December 4, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 28,1423

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RAWALPINDI, Dec 3: Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) is using delaying tactics in paying back dues worth over Rs9 million to contractors.

Some of the contractors told Dawn that they had been running from pillar to post for the last five years to get their amount released.

About 30 contractors were engaged by the cantonment board to carry out development works within the RCB limits. Some of the contractors have also approached the court to settle the issue.

The contractors claimed that three times, the court had given a verdict in their favour directing the RCB officials to make payment as early as possible. But influence was used to change the court decisions, they added.

They said several contempt notices were issued against the RCB authorities for their failure to comply with the court orders.

“The court even directed them not to pay salaries and stop all the development works until and unless the contractors’ dues are paid.”

In one case, the judge ordered for the freezing of RCB account until the contractors’ dues are cleared, but the decision was changed after the intervention of some high military authorities, they added.

The contractors denied that they had done sub-standard work. Our works have been checked by the concerned RCB officials and declared satisfactory, they added.

They mainly blamed the RCB station commander for impeding the release of their payments.

However, the cantonment official, denied that the courts gave a decision in the favour of the contractors.

The CEO alleged that the contractors had done sub-standard work.