Misuse of discretionary funds: SC summons Ashraf to explain his position

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The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday summoned former prime minister (PM) Raja Pervez Ashraf to appear before the court on July 16, to explain his position on utilising Rs 42 billion in discretionary funds.
A three-member bench lead by Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of a suo motu notice against distribution of PM’s unbudgeted discretionary funds.
During the course of hearing, Attorney General (AG) Munir A Malik said Ashraf had violated rules and regulations of Planning Commission of Pakistan by releasing discretionary funds.
The court said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would be given the task to trace recipients of the discretionary funds, adding that all guilty parties would be brought to justice. The CJ said that nothing was known about schemes initiated with the money that was distributed lavishly.
The court also granted permission to non-parliamentarian recipients of the fund, who spent them through People’s Works Development Program (PWDP)-I and PWDP-II, to inform the court about their stance.
Representatives of Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) informed the apex court that the PM had the authority to utilise discretionary funds for development projects; however he was bound to get permission from the concerned ministries before shifting funds from national development projects to local development projects. In this case, Raja Pervez Ashraf gravely violated rules and regulations, they said.
Chief Justice Chaudhry termed the release of Rs 20 million to an officer of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to convene a meeting from development funds as “an outright extreme of corruption” and observed that Ashraf had released billions of rupees in the name of discretionary funds, in clear violation of set rules.
Justice Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry, while expressing dissatisfaction with the incumbent government’s step to recover billions of rupees used in discretionary funds, asked the AG to inform the court whether the government actually wanted to save national money. “Tell us, is there any reconciliation deal in this case?” he asked.
He said funds were utilised to muster public support prior to general election 2013 but the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had remained silent.
The AG assured the court that the matter would be brought into the knowledge of the incumbent government.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Public Works Development (PWD) Director General (DG) Sarwar Awan said Asharaf had released Rs 140 million to three individuals who belonged to Chakwal.
Sharing details on the distribution of the said amount, Awan said Rs 50 million were given to one Col (r) Ghluam Saleem, Rs 50 million to Malik Muhammed Amir and Rs 50 million to Fasil Majeed.
Earlier on April 2, 2013, Islamabad High Court, while hearing a case pertaining to development schemes in Gujjar Khan, the home constituency of Ashraf, had declared him of not being sagacious, righteous and honest.

2 COMMENTS

  1. These PPP men are responsible for virtually bankrupting Pakistan. We all need to make sure that they are brought to justice. While there is little hope, the SC has to set an example for future. Hold a trial, if found guilty, sentence to death, confiscation of assets, this needs to be done to save the future.

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