NAB asked to complete inquiry on sale of embassies
12 September, 2012
ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday directed NAB to submit a detailed report of embezzlement in sale of Pakistani embassy buildings in Jakarta and Tokyo within 30 days. The committee expressed displeasure over the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which failed in submitting an inquiry report into reported corruption in the sale of the embassy buildings. PAC member Ayaz Sadiq said the ministry had been ordered by PAC to submit the report, but nothing had been presented. He insisted that action should be taken in sale of the properties abroad. He regretted that the official who identified the embezzlement in sale of Jakarta was made OSD for several years and later he died. The ministry failed to protect the official, he said, adding that the ministry also failed to provide any sort of relief to the family of the victim. Foreign Affairs Ministry Acting Secretary Alamgir Babar told the committee that the inquiry report would be submitted to the committee later today. Meanwhile, a NAB representative informed the committee that the inquiry of the sale of embassy buildings in Jakarta and Tokyo was already with NAB. PAC directed the ministry to submit its report within three days. It also directed NAB to complete the inquiry in the two cases. While discussing other audit observations, PAC expressed dissatisfaction over poor financial management of the ministry and directed to improve it. PAC expressed concern on the arrival of United Nations observers in Pakistan and linked it with an international conspiracy to give bad name to Pakistan by highlighting human rights violations in the country, particularly in Balochistan. The Foreign Affairs Ministry secretary informed the committee that the UN team was visiting the country with the consent of the government, adding that all stakeholders were informed about the visit. He said that the government had attached two Pakistan officials with the team for assistance. The team would share its findings with the government. The commission would submit its report to the UN Human Rights Commission. About the issuance of normal Pakistani passports to Burmese Muslims after deletion of EB-stamp - loss of Rs1.283 million, the committee directed the Foreign Affairs Ministry in collaboration with Interior Ministry to resolve the case and submit there finding with the committee in 20 days. PAC also directed all government departments to clear all outstanding liabilities against every official, who is going abroad or returning home on posting. PAC Chairman Nadeem Gondal also directed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to circulate these directives to all ministries concerned. Gondal asked the principal accounting officer to confiscate property of any retired official who failed to clear its outstanding liabilities under the Land Revenue Act. "If this is impossible, then put the names of such officials in the Exit Control List (ECL) so that such people might not return to or going abroad," he added. End.
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