PPP opposition: Cases not to be sent to anti-corruption body

Members suggest forwarding them to public accounts committee instead.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) opposed the sending of corruption cases of Punjab local government officials and elected representatives to the anti-corruption establishment during a meeting of the provincial local government commission (PLGC), it is reliably learnt.

The meeting was held on Friday in the committee room of the local government complex, Lahore under the chairmanship of Ijaz Maharvi.

According to sources, the meeting decided that all cases in which local government officials and elected representatives were allegedly involved in committing illegalities and corruption, causing huge financial loss to the national exchequer, should be sent to the anti-corruption establishment for further proceedings in accordance with the law.

However, PLGC member Navid Chaudhry, who belongs to the PPP, strongly opposed the resolution and registered his vote of dissent. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid’s Raja Basharat abstained from attending the meeting. When contacted by The Express Tribune, Chaudhry said he opposed the decision to forward the cases to the anti-corruption establishment as there was another forum, the public accounts committee (PAC), where they should be taken up before being referred to the anti-corruption establishment. “Only those cases should be sent to the anti-corruption establishment where allegations levelled against someone have solid basis,” he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that corruption cases in the local government system were being ignored and the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz has decided to take up all the cases to ensure transparency.

“Only those cases which have some procedural mistakes should be sent to the PAC,” said the minister while speaking to Express News, adding all other cases where corruption has been observed “should be sent to anti-corruption establishment without any further delay.”

The commission decided to undertake inspection of the district and tehsil councils to ensure transparency, fairness and good governance at the gross root level.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2010.