PTI seeks Imran's nod for Jhagra probe

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Internal Accountability Committee has decided to seek permission from the PTI founder Imran Khan to proceed with an inquiry against Taimur Saleem Jhagra, former finance and health minister.

PTI sources told The Express Tribune that once approval is obtained from Imran Khan, investigations will be initiated into allegations of corruption and irregularities within the finance and health departments in the previous provincial government.

Meanwhile, the committee has expressed serious concerns over Taimur Jhagra's sharing of confidential documents on social media. It will recommend disciplinary action against him to the PTI founder.

Jhagra had previously expressed distrust in the committee in response to a questionnaire sent to him, following which the committee stopped investigations against him and decided to consult Imran Khan.

It may be recalled that the committee has launched an investigation into the performance of the party's previous provincial government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

In this regard, the accountability committee has sought answers from former provincial minister Jhagra regarding 13 charges against him, including allegations that the province defaulted multiple times during his tenure and that Rs36 billion was withdrawn from the pension and gratuity fund account without being returned.

The former provincial minister has submitted a 35-page response to the accountability committee, saying that the committee's questionnaire is negative, politically motivated, and that he does not have confidence in the party's internal accountability panel.

PTI sources told The Express Tribune that the committee formed by founding chairman Imran Khan for good governance in K-P has sent a two-page questionnaire to Jhagra, in which a response has been sought on 13 charges.

Jhagra hit back by leveling allegations against Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

The questionnaire also raises concerns regarding alleged fraudulent loans issued by the Bank of Khyber and whether any action was taken, flaws in the Sehat Insaf Card program and the lack of efforts to rectify them, the failure to control the spread of polio with 20 cases reported in 2020 and 22 in 2022, and allegations of establishing regional health directorates to benefit a particular group of doctors, which were never properly activated.

Sources confirmed that Jhagra responded in detail to every question posed by the committee. In his written reply, he stated that when rumors surfaced about Imran Khan's intention to include him in the K-P cabinet, he was immediately informed that he would be investigated for corruption. He further criticized the committee's approach, claiming that instead of recognizing his efforts in pension reforms, he was questioned about the use of funds for pension payments. He described the inquiry as an attempt to portray his efforts to mitigate the financial crisis as a crime.

Jhagra also dismissed allegations related to the selection of hospitals for the health card, asserting that he had no role in the process. He revealed that when Imran Khan directed the Chief Minister to include him in the K-P cabinet, the Chief Minister suggested that he first clear the accountability committee's inquiry.