Expressing disgust over habitual absence of Interior Minister Rehman Malik from the meetings of the parliamentary bodies, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior decided on Tuesday to monitor private housing societies in the federal capital and reopen inquiry into National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NAECHS) scam.
A special parliamentary committee, headed by Nadeem Afzal Chan, had conducted an in-depth inquiry into NAECHS’ affairs and submitted report in the National Assembly in February, recommending strict disciplinary action against two top officials of National Assembly Secretariat, but no action was taken against culprits. The Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed that despite the fact that the accounts of NAECHS had frozen, around Rs 200 to 250 million were withdrawn.
Islamabad Circular Registrar Malik Deen told the committee that the society had failed to sell plots and the membership of the society could not be transferred while plots were transferable. When Senator Talha Mehmood asked about the current status of society’s accounts, Malik said at the time of freezing of NAECHS’ accounts, there was a balance of Rs 200 to 250 million, which currently stood at just Rs 0.2 million.
Later, the committee decided to launch investigation into private housing societies, including NAECHS, while monitoring would be ensured though sub-committees. “The owners of private housing societies are looting the citizens … the investment of common citizen is not safe,” said Senator Talha. On the continuous absence of Rehman Malik, Senator Haji Adeel of the Awami National Party (ANP) proposed moving a privilege motion against him while Senator Nayyer Hussain Bokhari said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani should be briefed on the non-serious attitude of the interior minister.
Senator Tahir Mashhadi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Talha Mehmood also ridiculed awarding a honorary doctorate degree to Rehman Malik. Talking to media after the meeting, Senator Talha said the patwaris and tehsildars in Islamabad were occupying their present slots for years against the traditional practice of reshuffling government servants after every three years. Responding a question, he said the Anti Terrorism Bill was soon be approved by the committee after due deliberations.
It is wroth mentioning that a special parliamentary committee probing the NAECHS scam had recommended termination of the two top officials, Deputy Secretary Tariq Ayub Khakwani and Joint Secretary Shahid Jilani of the National Assembly Secretariat, over their involvement in the irregularities. It had also recommended termination of Asadullah Faiz, former deputy commissioner Islamabad, who was at the time of presentation of committee’s report was serving in the Ministry of Environment. The committee in its report also pointed out that Circular Registrar Malik Din was also involved in embezzlement in the NAECHS scam.
It suggested recovering an amount of Rs 90 million the MAB Construction Company and Rs 7 million from MKN Developers, while utilizing the services of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). It also asked the government to put their names on the Exit Control List. But, the government showed a lethargic attitude and no action was initiated against any official held responsible in the report, using one excuse or the other.
