K-P moves SC to stop FIA probe into Peshawar BRT project.

ISLAMABAD / PESHAWAR -- The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government on Tuesday filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) order, directing the Federal Investigation Agency to probe into alleged irregularities in the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

The provincial government filed the plea in the SC Peshawar registry while the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) also filed an identical appeal at the principal seat in Islamabad through its counsel Makhdoom Ali Shah, praying the top court to issue orders for stopping the FIA inquiry.

The petitions stated that the PHC's decision was against the law as the high court had not fully examined the facts in the BRT project case.

The government petition states the PHC, on November 14, 2019, directed the FIA to conduct an investigation into the BRT within 45 days and gave observations against the project. 'The PHC order is against the law and the Constitution.'

It states the authority of taking decisions regarding the project lies only with the K-P government. 'Complete homework was done before starting the project as international experts were hired as consultants for the project. The PHC's observation is ruining the government's image.'

The petition further states that earlier a plea had been filed in the PHC against the BRT project, adding that the PHC had considered all aspects and disposed of the case. 'Now, on a new plea [against the same project], action cannot be ordered as it is against the law.

'It is against Article 10-A of the Constitution for the PHC to take up the case when it is already being heard in the Supreme Court.'

The petition requested the SC to annul the order issued by the PHC to the FIA for conducting a probe into the BRT project.

FIA...