Unearthing corruption: CDA mulls engaging federal investigators

Probe in a number of cases remains inconclusive.

ISLAMABAD:

Unable to deal with pending inquiries into mismanagement and corruption of the past, the CDA management is contemplating seeking the help of key federal investigation agencies.

“There is genuine concern at government level about the pending implementation of the [2012-2013] judicial commission’s recommendations in over a dozen cases of corruption, malpractices and mismanagement related to the past projects,” said a senior official of the authority requesting anonymity.

Now, he said, the authority was considering referring all the cases to the Federal Investigation Agency or the National Accountability Bureau for further investigation.

Earlier, on November 15, 2012, the Islamabad High Court had formed one-man judicial commission headed by Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan to examine a number of cases, most relating to corruption in mega projects.

The commission, after conducting through investigations, made its report public on April 5, 2013. The report suggested initiating “strict disciplinary and departmental action” against a number of senior officers including two former CDA chairmen.

In light of commission’s recommendations, the CDA had asked the Cabinet Division to form a committee to fix responsibility on the CDA officers involved. The Cabinet Division had formed a six-member committee comprising the additional secretaries for Petroleum, the Planning Commission, and the Cabinet, Establishment and Economic Affairs divisions.

“Some of the inquiries have been completed, but the status of a number of inquiries is not even known to the CDA management,” the officer said.

The commission completed its inquiry on April 5, 2013 and sent its findings to the Islamabad High Court. “Over 10 months have passed but there seems to have been no action taken against even a single accused.

He said only one or two of the CDA officials identified in the report were being charge-sheeted by the authority.

“Under the circumstances, it is feared that fair investigations within the CDA may not be ensured. Thus, there is apprehension that those accused of wrongdoing in these cases will go scot free,” he added.

He said fairness demands impartial investigations through FIA or NAB.

The officer also admitted that successive managements of the CDA failed to deal with the issue, which prompted the federal government to take notice. “Now, after government’s intervention, the CDA management is considering moving the federal investigation agencies,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2014.