ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) formally closed on Tuesday its inquiry against Auditor General Pakistan (AGP) Mohammad Akhtar Buland Rana on the charges of financial impropriety and abuse of power for personal benefits.

Mr Rana was facing two references for his removal from the high office, submitted before the Supreme Court one by the National Assembly Secretariat on Aug 15 and the other by a senior officer of the auditor general office, Irfan Jahangir Wattoo, after endorsing the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which charged Mr Rana with ‘misconduct’ for pocketing around Rs4.7 million from the exchequer as excess salary and privileges.

The references were sent before SJC headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk with a recommendation to remove Mr Rana from his office.

The references were submitted after providing opportunity to Mr Rana to appear before PAC meetings and clarify his position.

On Dec 11, Mr Rana was formally indicted by the SJC.

Under Article 168(2) of the Constitution, the auditor general, who is administered oath by the chief justice for being a constitutional office, can only be removed by invoking SJC under Article 209 of the Constitution.

The president can order removal of the accused from the top office or to continue with the job depending upon the recommendations and conclusion reached by SJC which during its proceedings recorded evidence of almost 20 witnesses.

Mr Rana was sworn in as the 17th AGP on Aug 27, 2011 by former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry though his candidature floated by the last PPP government too was questioned by the former chief justice who also sought a clarification from the presidency over the choice. The then opposition, PML-N, also opposed the appointment of Mr Rana for allegedly having dual nationality and allegations of a sexual harassment.

His appointment as AGP had also forced Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to quit the office of then chairman of PAC.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2015

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