Hamid Khan Wazir
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to further screw the Sharif’s brothers, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sought certified information pertaining to the taxpayers’ money, spent on the Chief Minister Secretariat, Lahore, and the personal residences of CM Shahbaz Sharif during the fiscal year 2015-16.
Andleeb Abbas, a senior PTI leader, in her letter to Chief Minister Secretariat principal secretary, Lahore, has requested that being the citizen of Pakistan and a taxpayer, under the Article 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan and the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013, she should be provided with certified information regarding the taxpayers’ money, spent on CM Secretariat and the Camp office.
The letter, which is available with Pakistan Today, stated that according to the budget 2015-16, passed by the Punjab Assembly for CM Secretariat, Lahore, was Rs 344.201 million and it was later revised to Rs 572.464 million which meant additional Rs 228.263 million were spent on CM Secretariat, 66 per cent hike in the budget.
‘Since this is taxpayers’ money and according to the Punjab Assembly rules, Chapter XVI no supplementary budget can be approved without the approval from the assembly’.
She that she should be given certified information, as when and where did the Punjab Assembly approve 66pc increase in the budget for CM Secretariat for fiscal year 2015-16, besides providing the details of where this 66pc additional money was spent.
Aside from CM Secretariat, she said, ‘I also seek the certified information about the money spent on personal residences of CM Shahbaz Sharif during the fiscal year 2015-16’.
Andleeb Abbas raised serious questions stating that why personal residences of CM Shabaz Sharif have been converted into six camp offices and what were the expenses of these camp offices and under which head the money was being spent?
She questioned, ‘Was the Punjab Assembly taken into confidence on converting the residences into camp offices and what are the security and maintenance expenses of Jati Umra residence and why are they being funded by the taxpayers’ money?
The PTI leader requested that she should be responded these questions within 14 days as specified in the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013.
