Accountability: Audit reports submitted to governor, court told

The AGP says his office has fulfilled its obligation and the matter now rests with the governor

LAHORE: Audit reports of accounts of district governments (for 2001-02 to 2011-12 period) have been submitted to the governor, the Auditor General Pakistan told the Lahore High Court on Tuesday.

In a written response submitted in the court, the AGP stated that the reports were yet to be discussed at any official forum.

He said his office had fulfilled its statutory obligation by forwarding the reports to the governor. It was up to the governor now to refer the reports to the Punjab Assembly, he added.

The reply was submitted on Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed’s petition on delay in the presentation of audit reports in the PA’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Sheraz Zaka, was directed to present his arguments on the next hearing on January 14.

At a previous hearing, the PA secretary had submitted that decision was awaited on a reference regarding audit reports sent by the governor to the chief minister.

Advocate Zaka had stated that the PAC was authorised to review the audit reports under section 108 of the Punjab Local Government Act of 2013.

He said a powerful PAC was important for smooth functioning of a parliamentary democracy.

He said transparent use of public funds and good governance could not be ensured without a strengthened PAC. He sought a court directive for respondents that audit reports be referred to the PAC without any further delay.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2016.