• Directs NAB to recover KP’s chopper expenses from Imran, others
• Wants Azam Khan’s name placed on ECL

ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday invited former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar and the Supreme Court’s registrar to brief the committee on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam Fund.

The former CJP had taken the initiative of collecting donations for the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams by launching the fund in July 2018, which was later joined by former prime minister Imran Khan, making it a joint venture to overcome the country’s water scarcity.

The fund had hit Rs10 billion in collections by March 2019, while reportedly incurring Rs13bn as advertisement expenses, according to PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal.

Barjees Tahir, a PAC member and PML-N MNA, claimed that Rs14bn was spent on ads against an overall collection of Rs9bn, calling for an explanation on why the funds were not used on the construction of dams.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed suggested that an inquiry should be conducted regarding utilisation of the funds.

The committee observed that since the fund has not been utilised for dam construction, it is appropriate to seek an explanation from the SC registrar in this regard.

It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court registrar used to appear before the PAC to explain audit objections on the financial affairs of the apex court.

However, after his restoration as chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry had stopped the registrar from appearing before the parliamentary forum.

Former PAC chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had strongly opposed the move and ultimately tendered his resignation.

The registrar has thus far refused to appear before the PAC, arguing that the Supreme Court does not fall under the PAC’s ambit.

Helicopter expenses

The committee directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to recover from former premier Imran Khan the amount incurred as expenses on the use of a helicopter of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Noor Alam Khan, directed NAB to write a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in this regard. The lawmakers deliberated upon the fund established by the ex-chief justice for the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam and the members agreed to convene a meeting where the SC registrar, as well as Justice Nisar, would brief the members on the fund.

The NAB chairman told the committee that the former PM had used the KP government’s helicopter for 156 hours during 2013 to 2018. In this time, over Rs70 million was spent on the helicopter. He further said that the NAB was taking steps for the amount’s recovery.

Arrest warrant

The PAC had also asked former principal secretary to prime minister Azam Khan to attend the meeting, but he did not comply with the direction. While expressing displeasure over his absence, the committee at the meeting directed to the relevant authorities for issuance of arrest warrant.

The PAC issued directions to the interior secretary and director general of the Federal Investigation Agency to place his name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

It also directed that NAB chairman, DGs and directors to submit their income tax returns since the date they had joined the bureau. It asked NAB chairman to complete the inquiry of Billion Trees case within six months and submit reports on a monthly basis.

At the meeting, the NAB chairman apprised the committee that 1,800 unauthorized persons utilized helicopters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government without paying their official charges.

The committee directed the NAB chairman to write a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan to stop their nominations to contest the elections until the payments of official charges.

It also decided that there should be no confrontation with the ministries, divisions, departments, including NAB, and all the decisions by the PAC would be made as per Constitution and Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the National Assembly. The participants agreed that no discriminatory treatment would be tolerated with any officer.

The PAC directed the NAB to pursue the court case of Peshawar BRT vigorously. It directed the auditor general to check the accounts of NAB’s officers. It also directed the FIA to finalize the inquiry pertaining to Broadsheet scandal within a month.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2022