Interference: Balochistan CM’s financial adviser hands in resignation

Alleges that P&D department was getting funds released without taking him into confidence

QUETTA: Complaining of ‘unnecessary interference’ by Balochistan Planning and Development (P&D) department, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Financial Affairs Sardar Aslam Bezenjo has resigned from his office.

“I have submitted my resignation to the Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri,” Bezenjo, who belongs to the National Party [NP] a coalition partner of the ruling the PML-N, told reporters on Monday.

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He said the finance department was already in a tight spot due to a financial scandal in which the National Accountability Bureau had recovered huge amount from house of former finance secretary.

The adviser said everybody knew what was happening at the P&D department.  He claimed that funds allocated in the 2002-03 budgets were also being released from the finance department in connivance with some officials of the department.

Bezenjo claimed that recently Rs8 billion were released from the finance department and the minister for P&D spent this huge amount in his constituency while the said amount was allocated for the ongoing development schemes.

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“The P&D department was getting huge funds released without taking me into confidence,” Bezenjo said, alleging that the department was interfering in the affairs of his department as part of a conspiracy.

He said he had called to the Chief Minister Zehri for the transfer of three officers of the finance department but he had given no response so far. “This situation has forced me to send my resignation to the chief minister. I will not take back the portfolio of financial adviser,” Bezenjo said.