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Former generals lock horns in multi-billion-rupee scam
Ex-Railways Minister claims he had nothing to do with awarding contract to foreign firm but former secy PR disagrees.
Ex-Railways Minister General Qazi claims he had nothing to do with awarding the contract to a foreign firm but former secretary PR General Saeed disagrees.
ISLAMABAD: Two former generals who controlled Pakistan Railways during General Pervez Musharraf’s regime (1999-2002) – Lt General Javed Ashraf Qazi and Lt General Saeeduz-Zafar – have now contradicted each other in their written statements before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which will resume its hearing on Monday (today) in a multi billion rupees scam.
The scam relates of the lease of 141 acres of land to a foreign firm for construction of Royal Palm and Country Club in the heart of Lahore, as ex-Railways Minister General Qazi claimed that he had nothing to do with the decision to award contract but former secretary PR General Saeed disclosed that the “correct decision was taken with the knowledge and consent of [the then railways minister] General Qazi”.
Lt General Qazi, Lt General Zafar and Major General Hamid Hassan Butt (GM Railways), who would appear before Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary on Monday to explain their roles in the deal, have joined hands in shifting the blame onto the shoulders of low ranking officials of Pakistan Railways, who were members of the Evaluation Committee, which according to these retired generals, had actually negotiated and finalised the deal with the foreign party.
These three retired army generals who were at the helms of PR during Musharraf’s rule at different positions, have also protested that the Pakistan Army was being defamed by those who had filed petitions in the court, as two of the respondents, were members of Evaluation Committee, which inked the deal.
These retired generals have also defended the whole deal and termed it the best in Pakistan’s interests. They have also defended the deal and said it was in best the interests of Pakistan railways.
A three member SC bench presided over by the chief justice would resume its hearing on Monday (today) on the case after admitting a writ petition filed by former minister Ishaq Khan Khakwani and Dr Mubashir Hassan.
Former chairman senate Wasim Sajjad has been hired by Lt General Qazi while Ahmer Bilal Sofi will represent Lt General Zafar, Major General Hamid Hassan Butt, and former federal secretary Khurshid Alam Khan.
Former chief justice of the Lahore High Court Justice Allah Nawaz is appearing on behalf of Khakwani and Dr Hassan.
The Evaluation Committee comprised Director Marketing, Director Land and Property, Brig Akthar Ali Baig and then divisional superintendent. The names of Director Marketing Khalid Naqi and Aslam Alam were said to be also part of the team which signed the deal.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2011.
Reader Comments (24)
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Protested that the Pakistan Army was being defamed by those who had filed petitions in the court The Retired Generals are accused of irregularities after they had retired from the Army. They are the ones who are defaming the Army by their alleged actions. They are the ones soiling the good repute of the Army by linking their individual predicaments with an entire institution. At least have the self-respect to face up to accusations as individuals without requiring the use of “defaming the Army” statements as a smokescreen to avoid prosecution.
On the one hand they are arguing that they had nothing to do with the deal, but then are also defending it as in the nations interest! Since when are members only club houses and golf courses in the nations interest, when 99% of the population cant even hope to enter its premises! Recommend
Discoveries after discoveries, amazing reports from this author. Recommend
no doubt, our generals are evenly corrupt like our politicians and bureaucrates. shame on them. Recommend
fantastic work again Mr. Klasra. Where is the money General Sahaib???? Recommend
It is really interesting to note that the retired generals have protested about the petitioners who have “defamed” the Army. Yes, Generals, indeed you have earned great fame in crushing your own country through 25 years of martial law and gross human rights violation. Recommend
How interesting… if you account the corrupt generals, you’re accused of ‘defaming the army’. Actually, it is these corrupt generals that are the cause of the defemation of every soldier in the army.Recommend
Let not these generals drag in the entire Army pitting it an attack on Army. This is not about Army, this is about these men who ran Railways, probably lived in the posh Mayo Gardens. Let the evidence be presented and judges decide the fate of these men. Recommend
In a Talk Show Gen Qazi had proudly boasted of this deal and similarly had others. Amongst those present was the man who runs the club called Royal Palm. This is a clear case of abuse of power and causing financial damage of billions to state owned Pakistan Railways. These are the same people who were responsible for buying defective locomotives from a black listed firm in China. Such corrupt former officers have damaged the credibility of Pak Army. They should be made to pay for their crimes.Recommend
What a sad state of affairs! The Washington Post cites in an article that the aid coming from international donors for flood relief was routed to building more nuclear weapons. Pakistan has more nukes now than its neighbor. Why? A nuclear confrontation has no winners. The flood victims in the meanwhile suffer in silence. Amazing priorities !!Recommend
Hoping that something should come up for the pakistani awam alsoRecommend
Oh !another scam denied? All people at the helm of affairs now or before have successfully shared there bit to weaken the corporation, the state and the institutions they represent.
God save Pakistan-AameenRecommend
Are Retired Generals are part of ARMY or they are corrupt individuals who are defaming army.So they should be punished for their misdeeds for earning/disreputing Pakistan Army for their greeds. Recommend
Justice should be done by the courts!Recommend
Arrest them and punish these corrupt Generals.They are defaming Pakistan and its valiant Armed Forces.Recommend
those who says that our generals are innocent? i must ask them are they saint’s?or those who join Pak army become saint?Recommend
As all the accused are men, I am forced to conclude that the persons who have filed a case in esteemed court are out to defame men everywhere.Recommend
There is a very thin line between corruption and wrong decision,Supreme court must decide on the intentions and take direction from a recent case of land scam inIndia where 3 sitting Generals have been penalized.Recommend
@ Sara noor
authors dont break the news. They write books. Its reporter/ journalist who breaks the news.
Plz note this.Recommend
Look who is doing Accountability? Where has refrence against CJ gone? Is Supreme Judicial Council In Hybernation?Recommend
Mr rauf klasra why are you silent on an open scandal of 3billion dollar PIA deal with boieng after 9/11 made on shaukat Aziz orders under the chairman ship of Saeed mukhtar (ahmed mukhtar brother).The EU imposed antidunping on pakistani textiles in retaliation in 2004
PIA will be sufering loss till 2015 because of that deal.i am sure you must have investigated on that Deal.But why no journalist wants to book Ex PM shaukat Aziz is beyond comprehension.Recommend
I have done much of this evaluation work when in government.
No award is ever finalized until it is approved by the top — in my case Secretary to Government.
The buck stops with him. Recommend
Yes generals this deal was surely in the best interests of the people of Pakistan.
If I may ask, how many poor Pakistanis kids play golf on this vaunted golf course.
How many middle class Pakistanis afford to have their wedding parties at Royal Palm.
For God’s sake, it is a member only club specifically for the rich elite of the city. One has only to visit Royal Palm on a busy day and see array of the Mercedes, the Aston Martins (yes you have them in this poor country), the Land Rovers parked in the parking lot, the owners playing golf in perfect conditions on a USPGA standard golf course.
Shame on those how come up with these ideas which cater to a very small segment of the society in the name of privatization.
Any privatizatin of national assests should have broad implicatiosn for large segements of the society not just the select few with rich pockets.
ZarminRecommend
This is what happens when incompetent people are put in charge of institutions. And let’s stop calling them Generals as they are no longer in the army and hence the titles are not applicable, and make them realise laws are equal for everyone.Recommend
On the whole the army is the most reliable/honest institution in Pakistan. When politicians get involved then a certain percentage will always be siphoned of by them. You would be shocked if the politicains actually done anything honest. As one politician put it, corruption is their right and everyone should get their share of the proceeds of corruption.
However the army is meant to function on principles of meritocracy,honour,fairness. I am shocked to hear these revelations.
The army is an authoritarian regime, it’s in their power to stamp out corruption. They should make rules that go along the lines of the army personnel are only allowed a certain amount of wealth, all external business ventures are prohbited unless they are declared to the army auditing authorities. If they have a wealth above what the auditors conclude they should have then it will automatically be assumed that they are the proceeds of corruption.
Our democratic governements are patently inept and useless so it’s only a matter of time before the army take power again. They will have to administer the country and they have the ability to do it right.Recommend