Corruption, irregularities: CDA chief assures commission of cooperation
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) chief has extended full cooperation to a commission investigating graft allegations in the civic agency.
In an in-camera briefing to the three-member judicial commission, which lasted over 45 minutes, CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz said that complete details of all projects would be provided to the commission, as the records submitted on November 23 were incomplete, according to the Commission Secretary Abdul Qadir Memon.
The commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Sardar Raza Khan with former sessions judges Sakhi Muhammad Kahut and Baqir Ali Rana as its members, was formed on November 13 by Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui in response to three petitions filed against the alleged corruption in the civic agency.
On November 19 the commission had sought the complete record of projects including Monal Restaurant, IJP Road widening and remodelling project from Faizabad to Pirwadhai, the One Constitution Avenue project, Centaurus and Park Tower.
Oddly, while on one hand, the CDA chief was extending his cooperation to the commission, there is still talk of legally challenging the creation of the commission by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
“We are considering challenging the establishment of the commission,” said CDA’s Chief Legal Adviser Barrister Masroor Shah. However, Shah noted that the final decision on the matter would be taken by the CDA chairman.
A CDA official requesting anonymity said the main reason to consider challenging the commission is due to the relatively short three-month timeframe, which would make it difficult to compile and provide date required by the commission. “There are many controversial projects and it would be difficult for the authority to compile and submit everything in just three months,” he added.
CDA spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said the chairman does not plan to challenge the existence of the commission, asking why he would go for this option when he has already appeared before the commission and assured full cooperation. He said the chief legal adviser’s statement was given in his personal capacity, and there is no plan to challenge the commission.
Earlier, Justice Siddiqui observed that the Monal project, which was started without open tendering or fulfilling other formalities, was marred by embezzlement.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2012.
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