Corruption scandals blight Punjab C&W minister

Misappropriations worth Rs 250 million and Rs 3.75 billion was unveiled in the department

LAHORE:

In a shocking turn of events, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s constituency has come under fire for corruption scandals worth millions of rupees blighting the department of communication and works.

In this regard, Punjab Minister for Communication and Works (C&W) Sardar Muhammad Asif Nakai has written a letter to the provincial chief minister, pushing for an inquiry into the Mianwali district development package. In addition to that, the department, in its letter, has also proposed registering criminal cases against Captain (Retd) Asadullah Khan and others involved in the scandal. A copy of which has been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s office.

Per details of the letter, the mega-corruption came to light when an inquiry was launched into the delays in the issuance of the Prime Minister’s package, which promised roadworks worth rupees four million to the people of South Punjab.

A road research team was appointed to look into the delays in road infrastructure projects in Mianwali district of Sargodha division. Per findings of which, corruption worth Rs 250 million and Rs 3.75 billion was unveiled in the department.

The findings of the investigation were then, for the longest time, concealed by officials of the research team, with the help of Superintendent Highway Circle Sargodha Ansar Mahmood. The information came into the notice of C&W Secretary Asadullah Khan in October 2020 when he received statements from two employees of the Road Research Team, in which both had admitted the discrepancies in the report. However, no action was taken despite proven involvement of XEN Ansar Mahmood and others. Instead, the secretary formed another committee in November 2020 to prolong the case. The committee confirmed the previous report of the Road Research Team on December 18, 2020. Khan later issued a show cause notice only to the concerned engineering consultants on December 24, 2020; excluding all others involved in the corruption scandal.

More surprisingly however, instead of taking action against C&W Secretary Ansar Mahmood, he was awarded the post of Chief Engineer Highway Central in Own Pay and Scale (OPS). Furthermore, the then XEN Highway Mianwali Rai Nawaz, in addition to being in a constituency of Gujranwala Highway, was also awarded the additional charge of Highway Division Mianwali and Second Circle Gujranwala.

Whereas, the current XEN Irshad Pensota was replaced on December 21, 2020 but this order was soon withdrawn on December 23, 2020. It is widely believed tha these orders could not have been issued without the support of C&W Secretary Asadullah Khan who was fully aware of the above facts.

Speaking in the regard, Provincial Minister for Communications and Works Sardar Asif Nikai said that the aim of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has always been to eradicate corruption. “There were reports of my department secretary Asadullah Khan trying to conceal the corruption scandal which I have also mentioned in the letter. However, there is no power struggle between me and Asadullah Khan, my aim has always been to highlight corruption and nothing else. The ball is now in the court of the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister,” he told.

Meanwhile, speaking to Express Tribune Secretary Asadullah Khan said that he has no objections with the investigation, which is underway. “The relationship between me and the provincial minister is ideal. All officers proven to be involved in the scandal should be punished to the full extent of the law,” he expressed.

Political backings

Per sources, despite the existing grievances between Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) and senior officials of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) in various departments, the two parties have been using the provincial minister and C&W secretary to serve their own agendas. Current provincial minister Sardar Arif Nakai was a PML-Q member during Musharraf’s tenure while the current C&W secretary Asadullah Khan has served on key posts during the former rule. Later, he also served as Commissioner Multan, a project in-charge of the Multan metro bus service, and a special secretary of the C&W department during Shahbaz Sharif’s government.

Sources further disclose that the two officers named in the corruption mega scandal enjoy the backing of powerful political leaders. “The M&R Chief Khawar Zaman is managing the camp office of the provincial minister located inside the Road Research Laboratory Office.

The provincial minister is making efforts for his transfer. Meanwhile, OPS officer Ansar Mehmood hails from district Gujarat and belongs to PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s hometown. He enjoys the backing of C&W secretary Asadullah Khan, therefore, no action is being taken against him. The provincial minister however wants action to be taken against him, for the transfer of Khawar Zaman to Sargodha,” the source told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2021.