The inquiry was conducted on the directives of Interior Minister Rehman Malik last month, Bilour told The Express Tribune.
Before entering the committee room where he was to face the inquiry team last Friday, Bilour said he had pleaded ‘not guilty’ in his previous meeting with the committee.
Bilour is accused of mismanagement and violation of rules and procedures in the purchase of 75 locomotives from a Chinese firm under an agreement signed in 2009. The prime minister had constituted a parliamentary committee to investigate the matter.
The premier took the decision a few weeks ago at a meeting that discussed mismanagement at Pakistan Railways, said the committee chief Sheikh Waqas Ahmed.
Bilour faced seven charges, including the payment of a $15 million advance to the Chinese firm, Ahmed said. The minister is also accused of deviating from the procurement agreement signed by both parties, an act that resulted in the closure of several trains.
Bilour said the deviation was made to improve procurement conditions and save money. The $15 million advance payment was made by the finance ministry as per agreement, he said.
“My ministry could not open a letter of credit for the procurement of the 75 locomotives due to a lack of funds,” he said. “Now, we will have to pay Rs 138,000 per day in fines for our failure in opening the required LC.”
It is also alleged that the ministry of railways made certain amendments in the approved document of the agreement, on the directives of Bilour, after signing of the purchase deal. He admitted that certain changes were made, but “in the interest of the country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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This man did everything like another minister in PPP right under the nose of PM ans Zardari .Media was crying for years about this and only now FIA come to know and investigate all this to what purpose. Certainly govt has some other purpose than curbing the corruption or saving the PR.
Poor Bilour is unfairly blamed for all the incompetence, inefficiency and corruption of railway walas!
I tell you...the FIA boys under Rehman Malik won't find anything under the hood.
He is making up on behalf of full ANP for the lost years they spent as allies of Soviet Union. They just realized what have they missed during those years. And someone very loyal to party could have done it what he is doing. By earning not only for the future but also for the missed Past.
I think this man should give share to others from his corruption, he has no right to ignore his seniors and always ask before misdealing and give proper share, then he will be free from investigation etc.
Ruining country's assets in the interest of Country.....
ha ha..the chinese rule this country... we now have pakistanis going to jail for bribing chinese.. no end to our shame now that we have new masters
This man is totally incompetant and has ruined Pakistan Railways, however for the cause of his party support to the rulers, he was and is never in danger of any accountability. Nothing will happen to him as corruption is the hall mark of this government.
A true representative of Transport Mafia installed to destroy Railways. Well done PPP for ideal selection.
This man should be put in jail for life for ruining Pak Railways.