Misuse of power: Judicial council rejects Auditor General’s pay plea

AGP had sought direction for the issuance of his salary stopped by AGPR

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Thursday has refused to entertain Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) Akhtar Buland Rana’s plea, seeking direction for the issuance of his salary, which has been stopped by the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR), the sources revealed to The Express Tribune.

They said that the council asked the AGP to approach appropriate forum for getting relief in this matter. Later on, the AGP withdrew his plea. AGP has also hired the services of Rana Zahid as his counsel in this matter.



The SJC comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk, two senior most judges of the Supreme Court Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, and two most senior chief justices of high courts resumed the hearing of reference, filed by National Assembly (NA) secretariat against the AGP on Thursday.

The National Assembly had filed a complaint after a recommendation by the sub-committee of the Public Account Committee (PAC) for disqualification of Rana as auditor general. It is for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a complaint has been filed in the SJC which seeks the AGP’s disqualification

The council has already framed the charge of abuse of power and financial impropriation for personal benefit against AGP Buland Akhtar Rana.   Additional Attorney General Afnan Kundi and Waqar Rana appeared on behalf of PAC.

The council directed 12 witnesses of complainant to submit their affidavits along with documentary evidences on January 12 to prove the charges of corruption against the AGP, the sources further revealed, adding that these witnesses will also be cross examined on the next date of hearing.

The sources stated that the NA secretariat has already submitted the list of 12 witnesses and now the council has asked these witnesses to submit their affidavits along with documentary evidences to establish the charges of corruption against the respondent.

The PAC sub-committee had recommended for filing reference against Buland Rana for disqualification under Article 209 (5) read with Article 168 (5) of the Constitution. Chairman PAC Khursheed Shah had presented the fact-finding report in the NA on August 11.

The allegations against the AGP are that he had withdrawn Rs4.62 million from the exchequer on account of excess salary and privileges in violation of standard rules and regulations.  The chairman PAC’s report says that Rana was getting 20 per cent additional salary in comparison with a Grade 22 officer, and under the monetisation policy, he availed more than Rs3.1 million between January and March 2014.

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