G-B CM orders scrutiny of public records

Records of Public Works Depart seized and scrutinised on orders of Chief Minister Mehdi Shah for corruption.

GILGIT: The records of Public Works Department (PWD) were seized and scrutinised on the orders of Chief Minister Mehdi Shah for corruption and have no mention of contracts given out after July 2010, sources revealed on Saturday.

The source said that the record seized before July was being scrutinised to ascertain if the charges were true.

Just recently, dozens of government contractors took to the streets for two days to protest against corruption in the department, demanding inquiry into their affairs.

“After floods of corruption charges, mostly levelled by the contractors in Gilgit recently, Shah ordered a scrutiny of the records of PWD, including water and power, water and sanitation agency and B&R,” they said, adding that the record was then confiscated for inquiry. Sources further said that in the meantime [July onwards], tenders worth billions of rupees have been awarded, but added that records of the tenders could not be found within the available files. “Those found guilty would be brought to book,” they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2010.