ISLAMABAD: The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has found irregularities in key appointments at the Islamabad Club and the Islamabad Golf Club (IGC).

According to the 2016-17 audit report, the appointments of the president and management committee of the golf club were irregular, and the appointment of the Islamabad Club secretary was also carried out contrary to the rules.

The audit report said the incumbent information and broadcasting secretary Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera was appointed IGC president on Dec 1, 2015.

Audit report claims golf club president, secretary, management committee’s appointments were contrary to the rules

The report claimed that there was no provision in the 1978 Islamabad Club Ordinance for the post of IGC president and a separate management committee to run the golf club’s affairs.

“In 1986, Golf Section (of IC) was given under the control of Naval authorities as separate unit named as “Islamabad Golf Club” and Sports ministry notified its President in disregard of rules and without lawful authority… In April 2009, IC administration objected to legality of Golf Section affairs and of Naval control as a consequence Golf Section was restored to Islamabad Club,” the report said.

The audit was of the view that, in absence of any legal provision regarding the golf section as a separate entity, the post of president and a management committee for the golf club in the Islamabad Club Ordinance, the appointment of Mr Sukhera as IGC president by the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division is without a legal basis.

It recommended that the irregular practice be halted and responsibility for the irregularity be fixed.

The report also pointed out that the reappointment of Arif Mehmood Khan as club secretary was illegal.

It said Mr Khan was initially appointed Islamabad Club secretary on Feb 2, 1998, and on his superannuation, the management reemployed him on a three year contract with effect from April 1, 2015.

The audit observed that the club’s management failed to make a suitable replacement for this position, and Mr Khan’s reemployment was carried out without referring to any laws, rules or criteria. The post of club secretary was not advertised and reemployment was carried out in violation of the Establishment Division’s instructions, it said.

The report recommended that the post of Islamabad Club secretary be filled through open competition.

It also noted that Islamabad Club was undertaking commercial activities and run on commercial lines whereas it was established as a social and residential club for leisure of federal government officials.

It said the Capital Development Authority has leased several acres to the club, which the management is using for profitable activities.

According to the report, the club’s management did not respond to the audit’s observations. It recommended that the management follow the relevant rules while running its affairs.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2017