Misusing public funds: Sycophancy costs ex-IG motorways dearly

PM Nawaz had taken notice of full-page advertisement in national dailies congratulating him after election.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has demoted Zafar Abbas Lak, the former inspector general of the National Highways and Motorway Police, for issuing a felicitation advertisement at state expense, PM office officials told The Express Tribune on Monday.

The prime minister had temporarily removed Lak from the post on June 12 over the same issue and had directed the authorities concerned to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him for wasting public money. However, the final decision was taken on Monday after more than six months.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the publication of a full-page advertisement in national dailies on government expenditure with a message of congratulation to Nawaz Sharif after he was elected as prime minister.



PM Nawaz had barred ministries and autonomous bodies from issuing such advertisements and warned that there would be action against those who violate his directions. He had warned of strict action against those violating these directions, saying that the head of the department concerned would have to pay the amount spent on such advertisements.

According to officials, the premier was close to a decision regarding the similar fate of National Bank of Pakistan President Dr Asif A Brohi after he was issued a show-cause notice along with the motorways IG on the same issue. But Brohi submitted his resignation to the Ministry of Finance in September over allegations of misconduct.

Lak was a grade-21 officer and will now be downgraded to grade 20. The former IG had used around Rs1 million worth of public money on congratulatory adverts after Nawaz was swept to victory, according to officials. Privatisation Secretary Amjad Ali Khan conducted the detailed inquiry and recommended after the disciplinary proceedings that Lak will be demoted and the public money spent on advertisement will be deducted from his pension.

The Law ministry approved the recommendation and then forwarded it to PM Office.



Lak was removed from his post on various charges against him and there were strict instructions from the premier to initiate disciplinary action against him, sources told The Express Tribune. Lak was asked to report to the Establishment Division as officer on special duty (OSD).

Sources said the other charges were misuse of Road Safety, Reward and Welfare Fund (RSR&WF), illicit and unauthorised distribution of official automobiles of National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) to his friends and family members and embezzlement in the auction of departmental vehicles.

Officials privy to the proceedings of the disciplinary action against Abbas Lak said that the official was also accused of being disrespectful towards the Supreme Court by violating its orders regarding out-of-turn promotions. They said that significant misappropriation at Lak’s office was recorded during the auction of NH&MP’s used vehicles on May 5, when six expensive vehicles among 40 were marked actionable and given to different officers and personal friends.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2013.