PAC orders probe into Broadsheet issue, Cabinet allegations

Committee seeks NAB, AG report by January 19

ISLAMABAD:

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) took strong notice of the Broadsheet issue and reported remarks during the cabinet meeting earlier this week against the Auditor General of Pakistan as well as the committee members.

Taking a suo motu notice of the Broadsheet matter, the committee ordered a full investigation by the audit authorities and write a letter to the cabinet secretary on the issue of allegations in the cabinet meeting against PAC members.

The meeting, with Rana Tanveer Hussain in the chair, was scheduled to review the audit objections regarding the Capital Development Authority (CDA), but the members raised the issue of reports of the allegations against the PAC and audit officials.

The Broadsheet issue pertained to the order of the London High Court, last month, for debiting Rs4.5 billion from the accounts of the Pakistan High Commission in London over non-payment of a penalty by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to the foreign asset recovery firm Broadsheet LLC.

Meanwhile, the federal cabinet in its meeting on Tuesday, assailed the AGP for harassing government officials on the pretext of audit paras. It was alleged the AGP staff cleared audit paras with the help of PAC members in return for billions of rupees in in bribes.

Taking note of the Broadsheet LLC issue, the committee sought reports from the NAB and the auditor general on January 19. The auditor general was also directed to inquire into the case and inform the committee when the firm’s services were procured, when was the contract cancelled and how much amount was paid?

Also Read: Broadsheet revelations 'tip of the iceberg': PM Imran

The committee expressed concern over the media coverage of the alleged allegations against PAC during the cabinet meeting. Audit officials told the committee that the news was “shocking to us as well”. Rana Tanveer said that PAC had recovered Rs500 billion in two and a half years.

Committee member Sheikh Rohail Asghar said that the cabinet damaged reputation of PAC. “This is serious issue.” Raja Pervez Ashraf said that there were serious allegations in the cabinet. Senator Sherry Rehman said that the audit had been questioned.

Treasury member, Mannaza Hassan called for an inquiry into the matter, saying that the credibility of all members had been put into question. Iqbal Muhammad Ali proposed the postponement of the committee meeting in protest.

Chairman Committee Rana Tanveer Hussain said that we have handed over the audit objections of the last 10 years of government to various subcommittees. He added there were cries “when we started seeing the audit objections for 2018-19 and 2019-20.

The issue of production order was also discussed in the meeting. Rana Tanveer said that PAC issued production order of a member but it was not implemented. On which Ayaz Sadiq said that the National Assembly speaker could not stop the production order of the chairman of any committee.

Later, talking to the media, Rana Tanveer said that a complete investigation would be carried out into the Broadsheet issue. “The prime minister asks who cancelled the contract with the Broadcast, we will tell him,” he said.

He said that a letter would be written to the cabinet secretary on the issue of allegations against PAC in the cabinet meeting. “We will first decide whether or not it actually happened in the cabinet.