ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday directed authorities to freeze bank accounts of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The apex court also directed to the counsel for DHA to submit all the details of the bank accounts in the SC registrar’s office immediately.

The directions were issued by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Azmat Saeed during the hearing of a suo moto case regarding the misappropriation of Rs 40 billion in the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI).

The court also directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to continue its investigation in the scam and to proceed against the culprits involved in the multi-billion corruption.

The bench declared that it would announce its final verdict as soon as the FIA completes its thorough investigation for unearthing the facts.

The court directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to gather the details of all the transactions of DHA and present it before the bench.

Additional Director General (Legal) FIA, Azam Khan informed the court that no application had yet been received by them for registering a case by the Secretary EOBI. He further stated that out of eleven deals of the EOBI with different companies in Lahore, four housing societies have pledged to return the amount very soon.

Counsel for DHA Ahmer Bilal Sufi told the court that the DHA had paid Rs 10 billion to Bahria Town.

Sufi further stated that it was a joint venture of DHA and Bahria Town and out of Rs 40 billion the DHA had paid Rs 10 billion thus the authority does not have the amount at the time.

The Chief Justice objected that how a government institution could hold a partnership with a private entity.

Seeking time from the court, Sufi stated that the DHA could only pay back the money by selling its land for which it would need some time.

Secretary EOBI Munir Qureshi informed the court that names of the officials of EOBI involved in the scam had been put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Justice Jawwad remarked that putting names on ECL does not serve the purpose and there was a need to lodge FIRs against them.

Later, the court adjourned further hearing till July 26.