Last-minute decision: PAC frustrates govt move to de-seat auditor general

Serves Akhtar Buland Rana final notice to appear in person.

ISLAMABAD:

The government’s move to de-seat Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) Akhtar Buland Rana was frustrated by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at the eleventh hour when the latter decided on Wednesday to serve a final notice to Rana to appear in person and explain alleged financial irregularities.

Treasury members were expecting PAC to advise the National Assembly to move a reference against AGP Rana for the illegal withdrawal of ‘excessive salary’ from the national exchequer. But PAC chairman Khursheed Shah of Pakistan Peoples Party decided to give him the chance of a personal hearing, according to committee members.

“It was necessary to send Rana a formal notice, asking him to appear in person… PAC has to fulfill all requirements,” one PAC member said. “PAC had earlier asked the AGP to appear but it never served a notice before.”

The member said now the committee would have no option but to advise the NA speaker to move a reference against Rana if he decided not to appear. He said PAC will send a request to the NA speaker, who could then send the reference to the finance ministry. The ministry may be asked to move a reference to law ministry, requesting it to forward the reference to the president for moving it to the Supreme Judicial Council.

Wednesday’s PAC meeting was the second consecutive one to be held in-camera to decide the fate of AGP Rana.

Rana became controversial even before his appointment to the constitutional post in August 2011. The then chief justice initially refused to administer oath to Rana and did so only after seeking clarification from the then government.

Rana has been facing charges of sexual harassment and financial embezzlement but the PAC has decided to restrict itself to the extent of investigating allegations of drawing excessive salary. The sub-committee’s findings showed that Rana drew Rs4.7 million over and above his entitlement.

The PAC did not take a decision on sending a reference to Speaker National Assembly, according to another PAC member who spoke on condition of anonymity, since meeting was held in-camera.

A sub-committee of the PAC, set up to investigate the allegations against the AGP, has advised the PAC to ask the government to send a reference to the Supreme Judicial Council against Rana for ‘misconduct’. The sub-committee was headed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Junaid Anwar Chaudhry with Dr Arif Alvi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf serving as its member.

The convener of the sub-committee was of the view that a person serving on constitutional post and found guilty of ‘misconduct’ should not serve on such a high position.

AGP Rana also continues to receive a monthly sum of Rs118,000 in car monetization allowance despite not being entitled to it. Rana has been claiming the allowance since January 2012, even though he rides in a chauffeur-driven car.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2014.