The Supreme Court (SC) has directed Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) to conduct within two weeks special audit of schemes and works executed in the constituency of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf during the last days of the outgoing PPP government.
The court also ordered that it may be informed how much amount was released for how many schemes during 2012-13.
A three-memebr bench of SC led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took up the case of illegal use of development funds by former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for hearing on Tuesday.
The CJP remarked, “No money is available for generation of power. People are dying due to load shedding. On the other hand, the erstwhile government withdrew development funds of trillion of rupees and spent it on irrelevant people and schemes. We have been asking since several days but no one is there to explain it. The construction of Bhasha dam was stopped. Youths are the future of Pakistan. Their scholarships were suspended and this amount was spent on irrelevant places. All have joined hands to devour the money. No one is realising the situation. The difficulty is that we don’t know who we can trust. This practice is continuing since 1985. Amount was released despite the curbs. Money was provided to Raja Basharat, Moonis Elahi, Sardar Mushtaq and Mehmood Khan Achakzai. It was not known to AGPR that the government was on the way to exit and this amount could not be released. We will take account of even a single pie.”
AGP Tahir Mehmood told the court that the PM could spend the money under Khushhali programme. “Such powers rested with the PM that he could utilise funds of 12-year Khushhali programme.”
The CJP remarked, “Why are you lending such support on political basis. Money was given to irrelevant people in the constituency. The AG had said that parliament could legislate with reference to development projects. Ban was imposed on uplift projects from February 7 to March 15. Despite that, billions of rupees were given without verification.”
Mehmood said the finance deputy secretary had got released the amount through pressure.
The CJP remarked, “We have to see now where Rs 42 billion were spent or were it devoured by the people.”
Cabinet Division Secretary Zafar Iqbal said the amount was spent under seven heads. “This amount was spent on construction of roads, bridges, drains, boundary walls of grave yards and electrification of areas.”
The CJP said the jobs related to district governments and “you have assigned this work to members of parliament”.
“No one is ready to assist us. We will call the AG and give the decision after hearing his arguments. We cannot afford more delays. How much money was released during the last days of the government when the election commission had imposed a ban?”
The court was told that the ban was imposed on March 11. All was done on the day when it was a holiday.
Justice Ejaz remarked, “After doing every thing you claim you know nothing. No one is ready to give even a pie to the poor. The PM is not a monarch that you have to comply with whatever he says.”
The CJP said government was constructing drains by leaving aside construction of Bhasha dam and putting at stake the future of the nation by stopping scholarships to youth.
“We talk of transparency. Who will conduct checking of expenses? You all are conniving with each other,” the CJP remarked, adding that “Rs 7,736 million were given to you. This amount was released on March 15. Where has it gone?”
The court observed that the Finance Ministry had been pressurising the AGP office for releasing funds and directed the ministry to file its reply.
“The Finance Ministry tried to take over the administrative powers of AGP. Former finance secretary should file reply on this count,” the court ordered.
The court also issued notice to AG seeking reply from him about the discretionary powers of the PM.
The hearing case was adjourned for two weeks.
When Najam sethi was appointed care taker CM punjab you were sleeping dear CJ?
When zaradri became president you were in hibernation ?
Stop the drama
Raja rental bribed people before election His intentions were- planed and motives
Do smell of mal intentions God was watching could not win his seat Its shame he took the wrong way.
Pakistan can't afford secret discretionary fund allocation to parliamentarians without ruthless accountability across the board. The big fish like Zardari must be brought to justice without further delay. His family including wife, father, mother and mother in law posses a huge amount of poor nation's embezzled money in Swiss accounts. A low profile person, a Bambino cinema ticket black marketer brought shame to the nation and still holding a most high office of the country, shame on us.
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