October 28, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 1, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: The ruling party legislators in the National Assembly on Monday expressed concern over the way Zakat was being distributed and alleged incidence of widespread corruption in the system.

The members during the question hour also accused chairmen of different Zakat committees of receiving bribes or commissions before clearing the cheques of Zakat money.

In view of the intense interest shown by the legislators in the subject Deputy Speaker National Assembly Sardar Mohammad Yaqub asked the members to move a motion under Rule 69 of the house procedures so that a specific time could be allocated in the house to discuss the matter threadbare as so many supplementary questions could not be allowed on a question.

It all started when parliamentary secretary for religious affairs Asad Gilani while replying to a query informed that the federal government only released the funds and had nothing to do with the implementation or distribution of the Zakat money — a job done by the provincial governments through the system of Zakat committees.

MNA Rashid Akbar was of the view that the corruption was rampant in Baitul Mal, Zakat and Ushr and alleged that these systems have turned half of the country into beggars.

The member also alleged that chairman of Zakat committees openly demanded bribes even up to 30 to 50 per cent that too in advance otherwise they flatly refused to release the funds.

“If a claim of Rs20,000 is submitted, the chairman keeps half of the money in his pocket while releasing the rest of Rs10,000 to the person in need,” he deplored.

Malik Amin Aslam said that in the absence of check and balance, the system was very weak and suggested formation of a committee of Parliament to thoroughly review the entire system.

The members even suggested that instead of distributing funds through the Zakat system, money should be used for assisting hospitals or building institutions.

Meanwhile, the house was informed in a written reply that Rs99.5 million was paid out of the Dowry Fund to the deserving persons from Jan 1, 2003 to July 31, 2003.

Replying to a question about the delay in permanent rehabilitation of Mustahaqeen of Zakat, it was said that every application of Mustahaqeen was given due consideration. Besides 50 per cent of the funds allocated for the permanent rehabilitation scheme during the current financial year have already been released to the provincial government for further action.

While replying to a supplementary question about the regularization of services of Chairman Pakistan Steel Mills, the MQM member Kanwar Khalid Younus alleged that the chairman was involved in corruption and FIR had been lodged against him in Karachi. The chairman had also terminated the services of scores of employees of the steel mills, he said.

A ruling party member asked MNA Younus that if the chairman was corrupt then how is it that the steel mills was running in profit.