Dodgy dealing: Army court of inquiry takes up NLC case

Chaudhry Nisar criticises PM but welcomes military’s approach.

ISLAMABAD:

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said on Friday that the PM’s decision to extend the term of a civilian accused in the National Logistic Cell (NLC) case was tantamount to a “slap on the face.” The comments from the PAC come as an army court of inquiry begins proceedings against three military generals.

The NLC scam involved a military-run organisation’s investment of billions of rupees in risk-prone stocks in the financial market. The office of the AGP had unearthed that the NLC invested Rs4.3 billion in the stock market without full adherence to rules and regulations. Eventually, losses reached Rs1.83 billion. Several other irregularities were also found in the internal affairs of the NLC.

While the PAC was appreciative of the positive role played by the military, it came down hard on the civilian government for making a ‘mockery’ of the PAC directives with its reinstatement of the accused. The PM recently extended the contract of Saeed-ur-Rehman as Member Finance of the Capital Development Authority.

“It is a matter of disappointment that, on one hand, the PAC’s authority has been accepted by GHQ and, on the other, the country’s prime minister has gone against the PAC directions,” said PAC Chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Nisar said he has been informed by the ministry of defence that a court of inquiry has started proceedings. “It is truly an historical chapter in the history of parliamentary oversight”, he added. The court of inquiry, formed by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani to probe the NLC scam, is headed by a serving corps commander along with two major generals as members.

Parliament’s most powerful accountability arm also called for the Supreme Court of Pakistan to accept parliament’s authority in checking financial affairs. Nisar said that, in June, the PAC had filed a review petition against the court’s decision not to allow the Supreme Court registrar to appear before the PAC.

The issue of Nisar’s expected resignation from the post of chairman was also discussed. Nisar has reportedly decided to resign in protest against the appointment of a controversial Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) – following which the PPP and its allied parties requested Nisar to continue as PAC chairman. Despite requests, however, Nisar did not clarify his position.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2011.