The Acting Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Zahir Shah, and Director-General of the graft-buster’s Lahore bureau Shahzad Saleem appeared before the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday in a matter related to Tayyaba Gull harassment case.
During the meeting, the senior NAB officials vented their anger, saying that they were being humiliated in the public eye. They also expressed annoyance over the demand for declaring their assets, saying that PAC had not sought asset details from employees of other departments.
PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan said that they respected the NAB officers but stressed that the committee had done nothing illegal. However, he regretted that unfortunately a tug-of-war had begun.
Khan admonished the NAB officials, saying that NAB had come into existence during the martial law period but in the past 20 years no rules had been framed. “You challenge our powers by asking for details of officers’ assets,” he told the acting NAB chairman.
Committee member Sheikh Rohail Asghar also supported the chairman’s viewpoint. He said that parliament was the highest forum and that PAC chairman enjoyed judicial powers. “A spectacle has been made and no one is willing to listen,” he said.
“Gone are the days when one slaps you on one cheek and you would turn the other. If I get slapped on one cheek, I will hit back,” Rohail Asghar said. “We are getting weaker due to these internal conflicts.”
Noor Alam Khan told the NAB officials: “You hold us accountable and we will hold you accountable but harassment of women and abuse of authority will not be tolerated. You are not a defence or military agency.”
NAB Lahore DG Shahzad Saleem told the committee that he had been serving in NAB for 22 years. “I have seen every rain and shine in this institution. But I am accused on the allegations of a ‘professional’ woman against whom 40 FIRs have been registered.
“I have a family…I have two daughters and one sister. You are humiliating us,” Saleem complained. However, Noor Alam expressed his indignation at the use of the word “professional” about the woman, saying that “such words for women are intolerable”.
The PAC chair explained that the committee had heard the woman but did not judge anyone. “You are called here to explain the situation.” He also scolded Saleem for repeatedly interrupting him. “We have been listening to you for 20 years, now you listen to us.”
The chair pointed out that honest people did not worry about questions concerning their assets. “I respect the law,” he said. “I’m not afraid of anyone. I will also go to the Supreme Court and show the video, I have such powers,” he added.
Acting Chairman NAB Zahir Shah told the committee that he had been assisting the country’s premier accountability forum since 2008. He added that he had always appeared before PAC, whenever summoned. Therefore asking the home secretary to ensure his attendance was unfair.
In the last meeting, Shah said, he had sought time to consult legal experts, who suggested him to go to the court over some legal complications. “We had disagreements on some matters, on that we went to court,” he said, adding: “We did not go to court against PAC.”
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Shah said that NAB should not be discriminated against. “PAC has not asked the asset details of the officers of any other organisation till date, so why are we being asked. All NAB officers submit their tax returns and details of assets.”
The chair fixed the next meeting of PAC on August 11 and summoned former NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal. He said that in the next PAC meeting, the issues would be discussed in detail.
Talking to reporters after the PAC meeting, the NAB Lahore DG said that there are 40 different cases against Tayyaba Gull – the woman who levelled harassment allegations against NAB officials in a PAC meeting earlier this month.
Responding to a question, Saleem said that no cameras were installed in NAB Lahore office, as alleged by Gull. Responding to another question about the former NAB chairman, he said: “I am not the spokesperson for Javed Iqbal but performed my duties responsibly.
Wapda accounts
Earlier, PAC reviewed the audit objections of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for the financial year 2019-20. During the meeting, the auditor general of Pakistan (AGP) pointed out financial irregularities of more than Rs183 billion in the allocation of funds.
The AGP said that Wapda rules for the Mohmand Dam project were ignored as advertisements for inviting bids were placed in local newspapers instead of advertising internationally. He added that only 2 companies submitted the bids but one company was declared ineligible on technical grounds and the contract was awarded to the other company.
However, the water resources secretary told the committee that the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules were fully followed for the award of the Mohmand Dam contract.
The secretary informed the committee that 23 companies took the bid documents, while two companies submitted the bid. The committee decided to investigate the matter and directed the secretary to submit a fact-finding report within two months.
In the meeting, the PAC members raised the issue of ‘the Supreme Court Dam Fund’ and demanded an investigation by the PAC members. “The dam fund was actually a damn fool,” committee member Barjees Tahir said.
“Collecting donations for dam was a joke with the nation. There is no country in the world where dams are built with donations. Rs9 billion was collected for the dam fund but Rs13 billion was spent on advertisements,” he added.
PAC tasked the AGP with of investigating ‘the Supreme Court Dam Fund’ and submit a report within a month. The chair also indicated that former chief justice Saqib Nisar, who initiated the Fund could be summoned if any financial irregularities were found.
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