SC bars NAB, FIA probe into BRT Peshawar

The Supreme Court of Pakistan approving the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s appeal, stopped the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from investigating the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial announced its verdict on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's petition challenging a Peshawar High Court order directing the NAB and the FIA to conduct an inquiry into different aspects of the bus project.

During the hearing, the court declared the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) order of investigating the Peshawar's BRT project as null and void. The apex court said that the high court’s verdict was based on speculation.

Additionally, the Supreme Court sought details of the total cost as well as details regarding the completion of the project.

During the proceedings, the KP government's lawyer alleged that the PHC had issued its verdict without any reasoning. "The PHC had given a verdict which the petitioner had not even requested," the lawyer claimed.

The court disposed of two petitions regarding BRT project: the first was KP government’s appeal against the Peshawar High Court’s 2018 judgement in which the court directed the NAB to investigate the BRT. The second petition was filed against the FIA investigation into the project. 

The Peshawar BRT was inaugurated after various delays by Prime Minister Imran Khan on August 14, 2020.  Around 128 buses ply on the 27-kilometre BRT track in Peshawar at 30 stations across the city.

Awami National Party spokesperson Samar Haroon Bilour's at a press conference asked why the KP government feared knowing about the truth in BRT Peshawar.

He said the government should focus on its performance.