In a rare move, the top parliamentary watchdog has directed the government to withdraw all luxury and bullet-proof vehicles being ‘illegally used’ by the services chiefs, federal ministers and top politicians within a month or amend rules to provide for such favours.
Headed by Nadeem Afzal Chan, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday criticised the misuse of 22 luxury and bullet-proof vehicles as rules did not allow anyone to use vehicles above engine capacity of 1,800cc.
It’s the first time the PAC has issued directives against politicians and military brass as the body has so far taken only bureaucrats to task.
“The PAC unanimously decides that by June 15 either all vehicles should be withdrawn or rules be amended supporting the use of luxury vehicles,” Chan said.
The matter came to the notice of the PAC after seven years and if it did not take any decision on merit, the members would be remembered in history as ‘dishonest’, he said.
The PAC cautioned that if by June 15 the vehicles were not taken back, the auditor general of Pakistan (AGP) would frame charges to recover the cost of vehicles and expenses incurred on maintenance from the users.
Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi told the committee that the vehicles were bought from a grant issued to the Intelligence Bureau in 2005. The total cost of the vehicles was Rs600 million, Sethi said, adding that then prime minister Shaukat Aziz had ordered the purchase of these vehicles.
Total grant issued to the Intelligence Bureau was Rs2.4 billion. But according to audit documents, from Sept 2004 to Feb 2005 three supplementary grants amounting to Rs1.2 billion were sanctioned for the purchase of vehicles.
Responding to a question, Sethi said that under the rules a secretary could use up to 1,300cc car, and a minister was allowed up to 1,800cc cars, admitting that rules did not permit bullet-proof and luxury cars.
Who is using bullet-proof cars
Currently, Sethi said, the vehicles were being used by Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Genl Khalid Shameem Wynne, Senate Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Industries Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly speaker and Balochistan and KP chief ministers.
Among politicians, Asfandyar Wali of the Awami National Party, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif were using the vehicles. “These vehicles were permitted by my predecessors and I cannot dare to call back those,” Sethi stressed.
At the same time, she pointed out that the government was incurring heavy expenses on the maintenance of bullet-proof vehicles and the amount spent on the maintenance of one vehicle could buy a new corolla.
“The use of these cars must not be continued indefinitely and these must be taken back,” said AGP Akhtar Buland Rana.
Sethi said that the premier was using 2005 model cars which were quite old, prompting Noor Alam, a PPP MNA, to remind the secretary that Pakistan was a poor nation and could not afford such luxuries.
‘Misuse’ of authority
In a case of misuse of authority, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Muhammad Yaseen sanctioned an Eid allowance of Rs350,000 for himself, inviting the wrath of PAC.
The matter came to light when the PAC chairman asked the PTA chief whether he had taken an Eid allowance. “I took Eidi as PTA chairman to which I am entitled,” said Yaseen.
Trying to justify his action, Yaseen said that since 2008 the government had not increased packages for professional management posts. To this, the PAC chairman said that if he was dissatisfied with his package he should have resigned.
“The gross package of PTA chairman is Rs1 million per month while I serve on a constitutional post and my total salary is Rs150,000,” countered AGP Rana.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (29)
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AGP Akhtar Buland Rana is a legend. Period.
Absolute disgrace that that these politicians are milking the country in any possible way . why don't they look at some of the other leaders whose economies are many times better than pakistan and they use economical vehicles. on what grounds does nawaz sharif ch.shujat and many others, are entitled to these vehicles. Nawaz who claims to be a self made millionaire but still takes advantage of a freebie.These pakistani leaders should be ashamed of them selves, unfortunately they've become waterproof,they call them selves peoples champion.Actually they are hypocrites who are deceiving the poor public of pakistan who are i am sorry to say are totally blind. Come to elections these hypocrites will probably be voted back again, which means more misery for this country. One has to question that, is this a failed state and it looks more like it.
I have seen an awful lot of bureaucrats and civil servants drive Toyota Hiluxs and I have lost count if the number of Mercedes Benz I have seen politicians drive. This in a country that can't even afford to educate over half the children - The Future of This Country.
Disgraceful.
Nargis Sethi should also specify what kind of vehicles Bilawal Zardari is (ab)using at taxpayers' expense? He's neither a secretary or a minister.
Dr. Yaseen is right. He is Chairman PTA and it was a common practice that Eid bonuses be given to employees. However, there may have been a clause identifying that Chairman PTA cannot be entitled to any bonuses from the board. It may have been that he might not have been aware of the hitch. But this is not certainly something which calls for a resignation, except with ulterior motives of people who propagate such misgivings with exaggeration and make it sound like this is one thing over which country's future depends.
Secondly this is a very petty issue. A stupid bonus of Rs. 350,000/-, which had he wanted could have concelaed but he did not. He is an honest man who revealed any little extra he may have taken without any hesitation. But our country is in the mire of corruption with billions of Rs. looted every day, no body to account for that. Had he intended corruption he would not have siphoned this petty amount but received millions thorugh other means...
Can PAC ask our leaders to resign????
How can you compare bullet proof cars, CCTV Cameras with an Eidi. I fail to understand.
This is a vicious agenda to malign Dr. Yaseen, who is simple and modest to the core.
Top leadership in this era needs bullet proof cars. The account people keep bringing up nonsense. ets amend the rules so these vehicles become authorized and legalized. End of story.
@Syed: These were ordered by Musharraf crony Shaukat Aziz, its user include Army Generals who will neither pay a penny nor vehicles back
Hahahahahahaha!!!! What a joke!!!!!!
Rules are already not being followed up.
After some time, every one will forget and move on to another issue.
We are a nation of howlers - no action.
That is one of the fruits of DEMOCRACY for the politicians, not the public In fact all the fruits are for the formers, and public is just GIVER; wrapped in the ballet papers.
Does anyone remember Mohammad Khan Junejo and what led to his ouster? Downgrading of official cars to 1000CC for the whole senior bureaucracy.
I have seen Government officials (and their families) at the district level using 2500cc four wheel drives. I dont know which rules govern them.
In what capacity NS is using this vehicle?
Rules will be changed ... don't worry !!! do you people still have any confusions ? strange !!!
Greed has no bounds--These are our leaders and our politician who feel pain ever to give out the legal amount as their income tax but want to enjoy the maximum on a free ride, I wish they are all dragged and made to ride a normal 800cc cars--if they can afford a personal and bigger vehicle they are welcome, these guys think that they cannot be killed while riding a bullet proof vehicle--they are mistaken-the day and time is fixed for everyone so why worry--i am surprised that the army chief who should be the symbol of courage and boldness too is hiding in a BP vehicle- what can one expect from them in the hour of crises? God help Pakistan and clean all the usurpers and dishonest amoungst us-Amen.
What a joke...take away the LV's a few months before their term is up...was the PAC Sleeping before??
LOL, ROFL, good joke.
I know these vehicles can not be taken back, but at least voice has been raised from the legislators themselves.
Babus and politicians might give these up but what about service chiefs...........
At loss of words. I hope it gets implemented and no retraction by PAC is issued.
At the same time, she pointed out that the government was incurring heavy expenses on the maintenance of bullet-proof vehicles and the amount spent on the maintenance of one vehicle could buy a new corolla. Is this expense per month; Twice a year; quaterly or what? How is the maintenance done? Who does the maintenance? What kind of maintenance cost more? How frequently does the vehicle required the maintenance? While it is good to highlight about the non-essential expenses but what is the alternative provided? what if someone assasinate a high profile/ranking offcial- what will be the impact on the country and the reaction from around the world, and what would be response from SO CALLED DEMORACTICALLY ELECTED CONVICTED PRIME MINISTER.
Kudos to the elected members of the PAC. A fine example of democracy at work. No wonder some do not like democracy and want to go back to the backdoor politics. More open and honest discussion and cost control is the need of the hour.
Babus are not going to give up their rides!!!! What reality distortion is APC Rana trying to achieve??? Careful, otherwise the Babus will throw him and others like him under the Bus - that too not a Luxury Bus but a decrepit Omnibus without brakes.
Love the PAC chariman's attitude. We need more leaders like these.
Finally! About time our Civilian Institutions showed some muscle in the face of corrupt politicans. No doubt the SC judgement has shown that the only way forward it that there is one law for all.
Vehicles will stay. Watch dog committee members will be given their marching orders. How dare they take away these vehicles from rulers of a poor nation ? Don't they know that rulers must be seen to be rich and powerful ? After all that is what this illiterate public understands, another reason for keeping them poor and illiterate.