Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has sought certified information regarding the purchase of an aircraft for the use of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
In her letter, PTI leader Andleeb Abbas has questioned why the CM had ordered the purchase of a VIP executive jet worth Rs 2 billion from the taxpayers’ money.
“Being the citizen of Pakistan and a taxpayer, under Article-19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, and the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013, I have the right to seek and get certified information pertaining to procurement of an executive jet aircraft for Shehbaz Sharif,” she said in the letter addressed to principal secretary to the CM.
“Was the Rs 2 billion of taxpayers’ money allocated in the provincial budget 2016-17 or not? The budget documents do not show this allocation,” she added.
“As a citizen of Pakistan I strongly feel that in view of the tragic loss of lives that we have suffered in plane crashes due to insufficient maintenance, such VIP purchases through taxpayers’ money are illegal and immoral and must be stopped,” she said.
The PTI leader said that a tender had been floated by the Punjab additional secretary welfare in this regard in the month of July, 2016 titled: “Procurement of Executive Jet Aircraft for the Government of Punjab”.
“How can the Punjab government use public funds worth two hundred crore rupees without even allocating it in supplementary budget? This is a violation of Punjab Assembly Rules, Chapter XVI,” she said.
“Are the Punjab Government Procurement Regulatory Act 2009, the Punjab Procurement Rules 2014 and PPRA Rules being followed in the procurement of the jet?’ she said.
“As taxpayers we have just suffered the tragedy of a plane crash in which PIA’s ATR flight PK-661 was lost along with 47 precious lives due to a failed engine. Why is this money not being used to improve PIA aircraft?” she questioned.
She further said that PIA was suffering heavy financial losses and had posted a huge loss this year as well.
“I appeal to all citizens to raise their voice against VIP procurements on taxpayer’ money as they are at the cost of so many innocent men, women and children’s lives,” she said.
She requested the CM Secretariat to provide her the certified information within 14 days as specified in the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013.
