PAC may review alleged misuse of NAP funds

Senate panel expresses displeasure over blocking CNIC of Bajaur family

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has hinted at referring to the Auditor General of Pakistan and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) a case related to an alleged irregularity in use of funds allocated for the National Action Plan (NAP).

The Ministry of Human Rights told the committee on Tuesday that news reports regarding misuse of funds and paying of exorbitant salaries to consultants was not based on facts and had already been refuted.  The ministry said the money allocated by the government for NAP was not misused in any way and the ministry always conducts third-party audits of its funds.

The committee, however, observed that if the news was misleading then the ministry should have issued rebuttals. The committee directed to the Auditor General of Pakistan to include the ministry in this year’s audit programme and keep the committee posted on the progress.

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The committee also discussed the ongoing protests of the State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) employees. The panel was told that there are a total of 155,000 sales representatives and they have not been fired.

Some 21,700 sales officers were offered to get promoted but only 8,000 of them got themselves registered. Only the post of sales officers has been abolished, the committee was informed.

The committee also discussed the issue of blocking of the computerised national identity cards (CNICs) of Malik Attaullah Bajaur and his family. The matter was raised by Senator Usman Khan Kakar in the Senate through a point of public importance on April 30, 2019.

Attahullah and his son informed the committee that their family had offered sacrifices in war against terror but unfortunately they are being politically victimised and their CNICs had been blocked. He also showed appreciation certificates issued by the LEAs for Attaullah for his patriotism.

Malik Attaullah said NADRA blocked their CNICs on the recommendations of District Level Committee which is headed by a deputy commissioner.  The committee summoned DLC and other concerned officials to brief the committee and sort out the matter amicably.

It, however, expressed its displeasure over the maltreatment meted out to the noble family.

The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) Employees Union also informed the committee about the recent arrests of the representatives of the union and registration of FIRs. The committee directed the USC management to adopt a peaceful approach instead of harassing its workforce.

It further directed both the management and the union to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiations. Chairman of the committee observed that the poor are suffering as the stores are short of items. The USC managing director and representatives of the union explained their position.

The committee also took notice of the registration of FIRs under 7ATA against the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) workers for holding public gatherings in Sindh and Balochistan. It directed the authorities to withdraw the FIRs registered under the ATA.