ISLAMABAD – The Defence Ministry assured the Special Committee of the Public Account Committee (PAC) on Monday that corrupt military officials involved in the National Logistic Cell (NLC) scandal would be punished. The Special Committee III, which met with Riaz Hussain Peerzada in the chair, was told that all those involved in the NLC scam would be punished per law. An Defence Ministry official told the committee that the army chief was serious in taking action against corrupt military officials and no one would be spared for being involved in the embezzlement.
The committee also directed the Ministry of Defence to submit a detailed report of all its cases currently in courts. It was also suggested that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should be put under the PAC command to make it a more efficient and transparent organiation. However, the committee was told that it was up the PAC to send a recommendation to the government and it could be done after fulfilling certain required legal formalities. The Special Committee also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to serve notices to ministers, parliamentarians and other government officers for visiting various embassies without obtaining prior permission of the Foreign Office.
The committee also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to write letters to all the embassies not to invite ministers, parliamentarians and other government officials to their functions directly. Per law, no minister, parliamentarian or government official can visit or attend function at any embassy without an approval of the Foreign Ministry.
Directing Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Pirzada said the Foreign Office must ensure the issuance of notices to all such people who violated the law. Pirzada said all dignitaries must respect the country’s laws and should not visit embassies on direct invitation. Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir assured the committee that fresh directives would be issued in this regard.
