SC stops FIA from investigating Peshawar BRT project.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday stopped the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from probing alleged irregularities in the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial announced its verdict on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's petition challenging a Peshawar High Court order from November 2019 directing the FIA to conduct an inquiry into different aspects of the bus project.

Additionally, the apex court sought details of the total cost as well as details regarding the completion of the project.

"What is the initial cost of the BRT? What was the initial date for the completion of the project? When will it be finished?" Justice Umar Ata Bandial inquired.

'Is there even a completion date of the BRT project,' asked Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel. To this, the K-P government's counsel replied that the project will be completed by July 31. Ordering the FIA to stop probing in the project, SC adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.

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.

While the top court stopped the FIA from investigating the project, the KP government said the new date for the completion of the Peshawar BRT is July 31 of this year.

In December last year, a five-member special inquiry...