—Issue of transfers and postings bringing the two authorities neck-to-neck
ISLAMABAD: In a clash of power, the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) and Controller General Accounts (CGA) once again have come neck to neck to subdue one another.
Sources told this scribe that AGP office is not consulting with the CGA high ups over the issue of transfer and posting of Audit and Accounts group officers who come under the jurisdiction of CGA.
According to rules and regulations, AGP is bound to consult with the CGA over the issue of transfer and posting of Audit and Accounts group officers in the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenues and its sub-offices; the Military Accountant General and its sub-offices and the offices of the Provincial Accountants General of each province and the offices subordinate to them.
On the other hand, the Auditor General of Pakistan has an authority to make transfer and posting of Audit and Accounts group officers (grade 17 to 21) who are working in the AGP office.
The issue of transfer and posting was earlier highlighted in the tenure of former AGP Akhtar Boland Rana when he had posted Zahid Rasheed Rana as Accountant General of Punjab; on the other hand, the then CGA Arah Ayub Tareen issued the notifications of Syed Ghazanfar Mehdi on the same post and at that time the matters had reached to point of no return and the practice persists.
Sources confided that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has also sought a briefing from the AGP and CGA high ups regarding the separation of Audit and Accounts Services to prevent a situation of conflict of interest. Sources in AGP told that the acting AGP Imran Iqbal will brief the committee that both the departments have no issue on the above-mentioned subject; however, the officials in CGA have opined that the issue is very severe and has continued since 2001.
One officer while talking to Pakistan Today on the condition of anonymity told that AGP does not want to lose the big department and he will surely lie to the respectable forum of Parliament that there is no issue between the two organisations on the above-mentioned issue.
Whereas the CGA office was established under the Constitution and according to rules, it has some functioning which AGP is bound to comply with. The AGP would negate the 18th amendment upon non-compliance.
Officers disclosed that the office of AG is considered very lucrative for the officers of Audit and Accounts groups as it is a common perception that they gain commission on clearing files.
Currently, there are 1100 officers of audit and accounts group and they are working on AGP, CGA, and AGs.
It is pertinent to mention here that the ministry of finance had approved the summary of separation of AGP and CGA but the decision has not been implemented yet. In spite of implementing the PM’s decision, the incumbent and former high ups of Finance ministry dumped that summary.
When contacted, AGP spokesman said that all the postings and transfer orders are inscribed and that these postings and transfers are done with the consultation of CGA.
