Discretionary funds: SC orders investigation against ex-PM Ashraf

Ashraf was accused of assigning out Rs47 billion among his personal favourites.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court ordered that a criminal investigation be conducted against former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf for allegedly distributing billions of rupees of  a developmental fund among his personal favourites, Express News reported Thursday. 

The court also ordered that any person who made feasibility reports for the fund or violated the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules in the distribution of the fund will also be investigated.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice of the issue in April and had ordered the auditor general of Pakistan to conduct a special audit on the approval and execution of development schemes initiated by Ashraf to determine if there were any wrongdoings in the process.

On July 18, the court was told that Ashraf’s action of assigning out Rs47 billion among his favourites could be termed a violation of his oath.