July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

MUZAFFARABAD, July 16: Authorities seem helpless in recovering an official vehicle from former AJK president Sardar Mohammad Anwar Khan who has kept it in violation of rules for around a year, it is learnt.

The government is now considering a legal action through the accountability bureau as repeated requests and reminders have failed to convince the former president to hand over the 2005 model Toyota Corolla Saloon car.

Sardar Anwar had two official vehicles in his use during his five-year term in office, which ended on August 25, 2006. He returned the five-door Land Cruiser after a month of leaving the office but kept the other car.

According to rules, privileges of a former president include around Rs30,000 per month as pension, Rs5,000 per month as telephone expenses and services of three discretionary employees– a stenographer, a driver-cum-gunman and an orderly. The rules do not allow the former president to keep any official vehicle.

The former president seems to be holding the car due to a legislation introduced by the previous government whereby the former prime ministers were granted some unprecedented privileges, including the provision of a car, 400 litres of petrol per month, a driver-cum-gunman and accommodation or Rs25,000 as rent.

Talking to Dawn, Sardar Anwar admitted that the vehicle was in his possession but declined to answer any questions. “This issue should not be discussed in the media. You better visit my place and I will provide you with details of the issue,” he said.

Last year the government provided a Toyota Corolla Saloon car each to Sardar Abdul Qayyum, Barrister Sultan Mahmood and Sardar Sikandar Hayat as privileges for former premiers.