K-P Assembly roundup: Revenue dept under fire for corruption, abuse of power

Reforms on the cards, patwaris to shape up or ship out.


Manzoor Ali April 16, 2011

PESHAWAR:



The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on Friday directed the Chief Secretary to submit a report on the assets of patwaris, tehsildars and other officials of the revenue department within two weeks. The order came after a three-day long debate on rampant corruption in the revenue department.


After a call from parliamentarians during Friday’s session demanding that the house chalk out a new corruption free and transparent system to protect people from having to bribe patwaris, Speaker Kiramatullah Chagarmati announced the formation of a high powered committee to amend the Revenue Act with amendments to stop the corruption of patwaris and other officials of the revenue department. The committee will suggest amendments to the revenue act.

The speaker assembly issued a ruling, directing the Chief Secretary and Senior Member Board of Revenue to submit a report about the assets of patwaris, district officer revenue, tehsildars and other officials of the department to the committee within two weeks.

The speaker also directed revenue department officials to ensure their presence in their offices and directed them to install a signboard with details of fees and other details of property transfer.

The speaker also asked the Anti-Corruption Department and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to brief the house about ongoing corruption investigations. He told the lawmakers to stay away from the appointments and transfers of revenue department officials.

He also issued directives to the Revenue Minister to ensure that every patwari has set up his office in the area he is posted rather than sitting in the provincial metropolis.

Provincial Minister for Revenue Murid Kazim told the house that from now on, patwaris will not be placed at the same post for more than a year. After completing one year, they will be transferred to another station, he said.

Provincial Minister for Agriculture Arbab Ayub Jan told the house that the chief minister had ordered the computerisation of all provincial revenue department records to stop corrupt patwaris. However, due to technicalities associated with certain settlements, the computerisation process is expected to take some time to implement.

K-P Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour called the revenue department “the most corrupt department,” and patwaris, “the most corrupt people,” as he condemned the corruption, adding, “Patwaris now have to mend their ways.”

Earlier, Awami National Party lawmaker Saqib Chamkani told the house that patwaris sold a woman’s house using forged papers in the provincial capital. He said that patwaris were demanding bribes from her for returning her own house.

The corruption issue was raised on Monday by Israrullah Khan Gandapur and Saqibullah Khan Chamkani through call attention notices.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2011.

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