Plots and then some (II)

Letter October 30, 2010
I would urge Mr Klasra to obtain lists of all government officials, civil and military, who have been given two plots.

ISLAMABAD: This is with reference to Rauf Klasra’s story of October 27 on how judges of the Supreme Court received plots from the government. Mr Klasra’s assertion that the plots were “quietly allotted” by the prime minister’s secretariat conveys an impression that the executive was somehow trying to placate the judiciary. Secondly, he claims that allotment of two plots each to these judges is a violation of official policy. Subsequent judgments and behaviour of the superior judiciary in no way indicate that it is beholden to the executive. In fact, it was General Pervez Musharraf who allotted an additional plot to senior federal bureaucrats in 2006.These bureaucrats had taken the plea that their post-retirement perks and privileges were nothing compared to those of armed forces officers.

The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly therefore needs to look into the matter with a broader perspective. It is also pertinent to point out here that recently 28 one kanal plots have been carved out of G-13 Markaz land and given to senior bureaucrats — the combined market value of these plots . The net loss to the sector is of over one billion rupees.

I would urge Mr Klasra to obtain lists of all government officials, civil and military, who have been given two plots.

Ambassador (r) Javed Hafiz

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2010.