Terrorists in Islamabad disguised as beggars worry PAC

Committee observes parking lot outside a five-star hotel in the federal capital posed a terrorist threat

ISLAMABAD:

 

The Public Accounts Committee of parliament on Tuesday expressed its concern over terrorists, disguised as beggars, entering Islamabad sensitive areas, and directed the federal capital’s police chief to launch a crackdown on them as well as compile a data of unauthorised personnel entering its Red Zone.

The PAC also recommended that the lease of the AKD Securities with the Railways be terminated for not paying the government department for 18 years and the blacklisting of the company.

The committee held a meeting, presided over by its chairman Noor Alam Khan, and reviewed the audit report of the Pakistan Railways for the year 2019-20.
It was revealed during the huddle that AKD Securities had not paid its dues to the Railways.

The audit officials told the PAC that AKD Securities had acquired 10,207 square kilometres in Karachi from the Railways in 2014 on a 99-year lease.

They added that the yearly payment of lease for the land was fixed at Rs560,000 annually.

However, the money was paid for the first year only and there had been no payment for the last 18 years.

Under the lease, the land was under the Karachi Development Authority.

On this, the PAC recommended immediate suspension of the lease, reclamation of the land, and the blacklisting of AKD Securities.

PAC chief Noor said no matter how much influence somebody had, whether it was the prime minister or the president, they could not enjoy it at the expense of others. He added that the land be taken back even by using force if necessary.

Islamabad IGP Akbar Nasir Khan appeared before the PAC on its summon.

Noor asked him if he was aware of the threat faced by the country.

The PAC chief directed him to review the security arrangements for the MNAs Hostel and Parliament Lodges.

The committee observed that the parking lot outside a five-star hotel in the federal capital posed a terrorist threat.

It directed the police chief to bring an end to the parking lot and compile the data of all those who regularly visited the buildings located in the Red Zone.

The PAC also issued directions not to stop traffic signals for VVIP movements as well as launch a crackdown on beggars, as they could be terrorists in disguise.

The body also expressed its concern over reports of Railways officials harassing people from the business community.

Noor said the committee had received a complaint from the Railways Peshawar Circle that an official was harassing a businessman to pay him a bribe.

The PAC chief ordered an inquiry against that official and said if found guilty of the act, he would be subjected to exemplary  punishment, recommending sacking him from his job.

During the huddle, MNA Ramesh Kumar inquired what efforts were the Railways making to recover its land in Karachi.

Committee member Sheikh Rohail Asghar lamented the ‘arrogant’ attitude of Railways officials.

He added that the Railways general manager did not even pick up his phone.

He maintained that the Railways administration had no control over its officials.

He blamed the officials for the takeovers of Railways land rather than the people who had taken over their possession.

The PAC chief reminded the Railways officials that they were civil servants and responding to the phone call of a lawmaker, who was the people’s voice, was incumbent upon them.

“It is your duty to receive a lawmaker’s phone call,” he added.

The PAC chief directed the Railways officials to listen to the reservations of the parliamentarians.

He issued special instructions to them to receive the phone call from a PAC member.