Public Accounts Committee Chairman Noor Alam Khan on Wednesday made a written request to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial for the sharing of details of Supreme Court dam fund created by his predecessor Saqib Nisar.
“Money collected in the dam fund is public money and it is inevitable for the supremacy of the apex court and ensuring transparency to make the details public for information,” said the chairman, requesting the CJP to ask the principal accounting officer of the Supreme Court to provide details of the fund collected. He said refusal to share the record of funds by the principal accountant officer of Pakistan for audit was against the constitution.
He said, unfortunately, breaking the law and disrespecting the Constitution has become a fashion for a few who prioritize personal interest over the national interest to avoid accountability. “This is public money and accountability for this money is a must, and if those accounts’ information is not shared with the public by the principal accountant officer, it would be a clear violation of the Constitution,” he said. “The judiciary ensures the supremacy of law and Constitution,” said PAC chairman, requesting the chief justice to take action against those who were refusing to provide the record. The committee also directed the secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and chairman WAPDA to immediately remove 114 people rehired after their retirement in different projects of different dams.
“To oblige the blue-eyed, officers are rehired on lucrative salaries after their retirement,” said the chairman, adding that these people are receiving pension along with salary. The chairman stressed that only suitable people should be appointed. “One of the TV actresses has unfortunately been hired as an advisor on heritage, which is shocking, and she is getting two hundred thousand plus salary and increments per month,” said the chairman. The PAC also directed the forensic audit of Bhasha Dam, Neelam Dam, Jhelum Dam, Dasu Dam, Mohmand Dam, and K4 project in Karachi. “A construction company of a [former] federal minister in the previous government broke all records of corruption in Mohmand Dam therefore I am referring these cases to NAB,” said the chairman.
