The Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Tuesday called for constitution of a judicial commission to probe the causes behind the resignation of the former Director General Khyber Pakthunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC).
They said slashing the powers of KPEC had negated the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s claims of conducting transparent accountability in the province.
The amendments in the Ehtesab Commission Act had weaken the anti-corruption body which till the recent past was referred to by the PTI government as one of its great achievements, they added.
ANP leader Wajid Ali Khan said the PTI government should clarify its position over the disclosures made by Lt Gen (r) Hamid Ali Khan on the issue. The people wanted to know about authenticity of the revelations he made after quitting the office of DG KPEC, he added.
Wajid, who is a former KP minister, said the PTI-led coalition government had got passed the Ehtesab Commission bill from the assembly in haste. Had it done proper homework the need for amendments would not have arisen and the controversy developed following the resignation of the DG Ehtesab Commission could have been averted.
He said the provincial government had hired the services of Lt Gen (r) Hamid for being a man of high integrity and reputation, and now it was its responsibility to clarify the disclosures.
It would have been better if the PTI government had strengthened Anti-Corruption Police Department, he opined.
PPP’s former senior minister Rahimdad Khan said the amendments in the Accountability Commission Act would dampen people’s confidence in the accountability process.
He said the Act was passed to ensure transparency in governance, besides close monitoring of lawmakers and bureaucrats misusing tax payers’ money. However, amending the law in haste had raised questions. Slashing the powers of DG KPEC regarding the arrest of lawmakers and bureaucrats, and seeking prior permission of the Speaker and Chief Secretary was a mockery of a fair accountability process, he added.
Rahimdad Khan said the former DG Ehtesab Commission had served the Commission for over a year and the disclosures made by him against the KP Chief Minister, some provincial ministers, PTI lawmakers and bureaucrats should be thoroughly investigated by a judicial commission to ascertain the facts.
