Constitutionally, the AGP can only be removed in a manner prescribed for the removal of a Supreme Court judge. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A reference forwarded by the president to the prime minister’s office against the Auditor General of Pakistan remains pending for a year.
Before taking Akhtar Buland Rana’s oath, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had sought clarifications from the president as a string of allegations were levelled against the Auditor General of Pakistan.
Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) reportedly accused Rana of sexual harassment. He has also been blamed for corruption, against which the Minister of State for Information, Syed Samsam Bukhari, filed a reference that was supported by irrefutable documentary evidence.
On July 19, 2012, the President Secretariat forwarded a reference to former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf through his Principal Secretary Muhammad Ayub Qazi, official documents reveal. The reference remains buried to this day, courtesy two bureaucrats who have provided complete protection to Rana.
“There has been no movement on the case,” said Prime Minister’s Spokesman Shafqat Jalil. In reality, the file is untraceable.
According to sources, Syed Ghazanfar Abbas Jilani, who was serving as Joint Secretary in PM Public Secretariat, blocked any further action on the reference. Jilani, a close relative of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, currently serves as the chief accounts officer in the foreign affairs ministry.
Constitutionally, the AGP can only be removed in a manner prescribed for the removal of a Supreme Court judge through the Supreme Judicial Council.
Allegations against Rana
Rana allegedly secured multiple passports illegally, including a Canadian passport and has travelled abroad many times without permission of the competent authorities.
According to a letter of Director General ISI, which is enclosed with the reference, Rana used three Pakistani and one Canadian passport and two CNICs for travelling abroad from April 2004 to December 2009. Out of fifteen entries five were on the Canadian passport.
He also obtained Canadian nationality without informing the department or obtaining NoC from the government.
Rana was also accused of sexually harassing a female colleague. Recently, the AGP was caught withdrawing a monthly car allowance of Rs118,000 besides availing other benefits.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2013.
COMMENTS (8)
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Auditor General's office is a watch-dog on spendings from public exchequer. When AGP himself is involved in corruption, then who will add value and put some restrictions on expenditure being incurred in violation of rules and regulations. Chief Justice of Pakistan, keeping his mission alive, should take suo motto action and place his case in Supreme Judicial Council for his removal in supreme national interests. If we want democracy and institutions grow and prosper, AGP has to go.
Corruption has become a way of life in Pakistani society. It is considered as the best kit for survival. Corrupt do not suffer in this society but those who are not corrupt they are doomed to suffer. It is ironical that the relevant file is not traceable in the PM Secretariat. Take the concerned Desk Officer /S.O to the task and he will spill the beans.
As a taxpayer, I request CJ to take action against him
Now he sits on the other side of the camp. So there will be no action against him. It is an indication to the bureaucrats to sit in Nawaz Camp.
These type of news are very disappointing. They erode the trust of citizens in the government and the institutions.
All AGP files will go up smoke, like LDA files and those of every GOP department under scrutiny. Its particularly our national failing and of those put in charge. Our Courts don't have the nerve to punish anyone. But they do have a penchant of wasting taxpayers money and charging into windmills on hundreds of suo moto's. The fact that the edifice of Pakistan is rotten to the core makes any reversal to better days a human impossibility.
It is not the matter of this one heir of British legacy, all these white elephants do it. But they are so cunning that they never remained in headlines. Corruption is the motto of Civil Bureaucracy.
Wasnt he favored by the president at the time of his appointment despite heavy criticism by media and public? I remember when CJ sought clarification about his name due to his involvement about certain scandles then President wrote in his reply that "nothing has been proved just the allegations". So now why is president sending a reference against him?