LAHORE, April 8: All Pakistan Business Forum has urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the financial scam, involving advances made on political consideration just before the assembly was dissolved to end the five-year term of the PPP-led coalition government.

“How much advances were made on the last day of the government when banks are normally closed. What were the compulsions that forced the State Bank to make an exception?” said APBF chairman Syed Nabeel Hashmi at the oath-taking ceremony of newly-elected provincial office-bearers of the forum on Monday.

“Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry should take suo moto notice of the criminal step of the outgoing rulers to stash away billions of rupees, directing the new government to launch an inquiry and disclose the amount, confirming mysterious transactions made particularly on last day of the government,” he added.

Mr Hashmi said despite serious shortage of revenue, the banks were opened especially to settle the accounts, which created doubts. The outgoing government’s last day in power epitomises how it ruled the country for five years.

“The steps taken on the last day are the concentrated version of what the rulers have done ever since it took power i.e. looted the national exchequer, made wrongful appointments and thrashed anyone who stood in their way while they shamelessly pillaged.

“The government issued thousands of licences of weapons and at least 72 of CNG filling stations on back dates during the last seven days of its tenure despite the fact that ECC opposed further approval of CNG stations.

“Though the government has completed five-year tenure, it had completely failed to resolve the problems like dearness, unemployment, loadshedding, lawlessness and had generated multiple problems for the masses which have crippled the economy of the country,” said Mr Hashmi.

APBF central president Rashid Mehr pointed out that National Assembly speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza approved 100 per cent increase in benefits and allowances of all members of parliament. New cars worth millions of rupees were bought on her orders, besides approval of life-time benefits and perks for NA speaker.

He said all ministerial staff from Information Minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira’s office were given foreign postings while Sindh Assembly approved a bill recommending an increment in legislators’ salaries.

Despite the SC order, the former PM appointed his son-in-law as the deputy managing director of the Pakistan China Investment Company, he said.