Government initiates inquiry against Zaka Ashraf

Former PCB chairman facing charges of corruption, financial irregularities.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) former chairman Zaka Ashraf could get in trouble as the current government is set to open cases against him over alleged charges of corruption while working both at the PCB and ZTBL.

It has been learnt by The Express Tribune that the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination have asked the PCB to provide details of the irregularities committed by Ashraf during his tenure as the body’s chief.

There had been complaints against the ex-chairman for wasting the board’s money by appointing 68 employees on lucrative packages on the basis of favouritism and nepotism. He has also come under the radar for appointing army officials, who had retired or were close to retirement.



“The Islamabad High Court has directed the Auditor General of Pakistan to conduct a special audit of the PCB as well as the National Cricket Academy of the last five years and the report should be made public,” stated an excerpt from the documents.

“Criminal cases must be registered through the FIA against those officials who plundered the PCB’s money, converted assets of the board for personal use. The amount should be recovered at the earliest.”

Additionally, the National Accountability Bureau has also been requested to initiate an inquiry against Ashraf for a reported loss of Rs7 billion at ZTBL and names of three other officers have also been mentioned.

PCB keeping mum over issue

The current management of the board is keeping mum over the issue despite the original file being delivered to the Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed from the PM’s office.

“We did receive the documents from the ministry but we haven’t written anything back because our focus is currently on getting the board out of the court’s cases related to its election,” a top PCB official told The Express Tribune.

“Once we are done with it, we’ll definitely write about the irregularities during the Ashraf’s tenure.”

Ashraf rebuffs accusations

However, Ashraf refuted the reports, claiming that a group of people were trying to tarnish his image.

“I’ve enjoyed a clean reputation whether being at PCB or ZTBL,” he said. “Those who have filed cases against me are the ones who were terminated on corruption charges at ZTBL.

“In my leadership, ZTBL had posted a profit of Rs12 billion, the highest by any bank in 50 years. I also tried to take the PCB to new heights by appointing professionals.”

He added that out of 68 appointees in his tenure most were ground staff while others were vigilance officials who were the need of the hour.

Commenting on the file moved from the PM’s office, he stressed that it was a routine matter as the PM Secretariat often takes comments for organisations who are directly involved in any concerned matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2013.

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