Public Accounts Committee: End farmlands for generals, plots for bureaucrats



ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) directed the defence ministry on Wednesday to stop allotting agricultural lands to army generals and other military officials. It also directed the government to annul the policy of handing out two plots to grade-22 bureaucrats and Supreme Court judges.

However, PAC Chairman Nadeem Afzal Chan stated that the committee had no objection to the allotment of agricultural lands to widows, and martyrs’ families.
Chan also endorsed the General Headquarters’ policy of providing residences to its forces, and suggested that the government follow the same model for bureaucrats.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief General Asim Saleem Bajwa was not available for comments on the matter.
While stating that second plots will no longer be allotted to high-ranking bureaucrats, Chan said that the policy “was initiated to give benefits to so-called nobles of society, and is tantamount to usurping the rights of other deserving officials.” He added that providing second plots was also in violation of those articles of the Constitution which promise equality and non-discrimination.
In July 2006, former premier Shaukat Aziz had approved a package for grade-22 officers, which included a second plot, 20% special pay in addition to their normal salary and a domestic servant. This was extended to judges in 2008. So far, 236 plots had been allotted to bureaucrats and 21 apex court judges under this policy.
The PAC also ordered the cancellation of all those allotments where plots had originally been provided in newly established sectors in Islamabad, but the recipients had had them transferred to high-value sectors by using contacts. In addition, Chan called for an inquiry against those bureaucrats who submitted false affidavits for getting second plots. The committee also ordered that the provision of plots to bureaucrats who serve in Capital Development Authority on deputation be stopped.
At the last PAC meeting, Chan said Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had personally assured him that all PAC directives aimed at bringing an end to exploitation by the ‘influential classes’ would be implemented.
The parliamentary watchdog also expressed displeasure over the Sindh chief secretary and housing department secretary not complying with PAC directives to provide a list of federal government employees who had obtained plots in the province.
At the same time, the PAC appreciated the Balochistan administration for providing the necessary details as well as the Khyber-Pakthunkhwa administration for not practicing any policy of allotting plots to bureaucrats.
The decision to cancel the second plot policy was fiercely challenged by Auditor-General of Pakistan Akhtar Buland Rana, who interrupted Chan to provide a spirited defence of the rule. Rana said that providing second plots was an incentive to reward the good work carried out by bureaucrats.
SC registrar issue
The auditor-general, however, had to face questioning on another account – Rana had earlier stated that an audit of the Supreme Court was carried out regularly. Chan said any discussion on the issue which was not taking place before the PAC held no meaning. He asked the auditor general to present the minutes of all meetings held by Departmental Accounts Committees (DACs) to the PAC.
Earlier, the PAC chairman had said it was unclear if any DAC meetings had been held to discuss the issue of scrutinising the apex court’s accounts. The Supreme Court registrar has refused to appear before the accountability body, after which the PAC referred the matter to the National Assembly for further action.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2012.

PAC questions double plots for retired bureaucrats


ISLAMABAD: The allocation of two plots to top-ranked bureaucrats was described as a “discriminatory and flawed” policy on Wednesday by some members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) – however, the committee was unable to order cancellation of the second plots due to disagreements amongst its members.

PAC members who were against the policy said it was contradictory to the Constitution, which promises equal rights to all citizens.
The two plots policy was approved by the then prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, in 2006. According to the new rules, grade 22 bureaucrats would also receive a servant after retirement and 20% special pay (a monthly addition to their basic salary). Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation Director General Mian Talat informed the committee that this policy was extended to judges of the Supreme Court in 2008.
So far, the government has doled out second plots to 123 bureaucrats at a mere Rs2.7 million per plot. Another 63 grade 22 officers are on a waiting list due to scarcity of land.



According to the policy, any bureaucrat who already owns more than one plot cannot avail this privilege. The PAC observed, however, that the housing foundation had been providing plots without verifying claims of applicants who said they did not own more than one plot.
Talat conceded that some bureaucrats had submitted false affidavits and that the provincial administrations had not provided details of plots allotted to federal government employees so far, which would have ensured verification.
The PAC asked the housing ministry to submit a fresh list of beneficiaries including details of plots that these bureaucrats have obtained while serving in different provinces.
The PAC members who wanted to cancel the second plot include Yasmeen Rehman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who suggested that the special allowance as well as the second plot be withdrawn.
Riaz Fatyana of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) said the policy of giving plots after retirement was flawed and the government should give apartments to federal employees, and recover the cost from their salaries.
On the other hand, some of the members were of the view that it would be difficult to take back the plots from those who have already received them.
Meanwhile, Housing Secretary Kamran Lashari defended former premier Shaukat Aziz’s decision, saying the two plots package was aimed at recognising the services of grade 22 officers. Lashari, who is set to retire next week, said there should be a proper system for providing shelter to federal government employees.
Many PAC members argued, however, that those in lower positions should also be entitled to similar facilities in the case, especially since many work ‘much harder’ than federal secretaries.
PAC chairperson Nadeem Afzal Chan also took exception to what he deemed interference from the prime minister’s principal secretary in the allotment issue. Despite the fact that the matter was under the PAC’s consideration, the principal secretary has summoned the Capital Development Authority chairperson and directed him to create more space for provision of second plots to bureaucrats, according to Chan.
The chairperson added that the premier has assured him that the PAC’s recommendations on double plots will be implemented, but if they aren’t, the committee will go to the Supreme Court.
The committee also observed that former premier Benazir Bhutto’s 1995 decision to give plots to 481 officials was in violation of the rules.
The PAC will announce its decision on the dual plots policy next week.


Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2012.

PAC opposes allotment of farmland to generals


ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly directed the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday to do away with the policy of allotting agricultural land to its senior army officers and stop the practice forthwith.
A meeting of the committee presided over by its chairman Nadeem Afzal Gondal unanimously recommended immediate cancellation of a special incentive policy introduced by former prime minister Shaukat Aziz in 2006 under which bureaucrats who reach the maximum BPS-22 and judges of the Supreme Court are provided additional residential plots in Islamabad.
So far 236 people, including 21 judges, have benefited from this scheme, while 63 cases are pending.
Mr Gondal said the committee was against allotment of huge tracts of land by the defence ministry to its senior generals and had decided to pass a similar directive to the military authorities to stop this practice. However, he clarified that the PAC directive would not affect the allotment of land to widows of martyrs and deserving people.
He said that over the years both civil and military bureaucracies had heavily misused the policy of allotment of residential and agricultural lands, but this must end now.
However, Mr Gondal had a word of praise for the GHQ providing residences to its officers under a uniform policy and said the PAC had recommended to the Ministry of Housing and Works to implement a similar plan for civil servants. “The committee is not against public servants, but it wants an equitable policy which benefits every government servant,” he said.
Talking to Dawn, a senior military officer said the GHQ followed a prescribed criterion for allotment of agricultural land to its officers, adding that mainly families of the martyrs and the officers who suffered from disability during service were accommodated in this scheme.
A very limited number of retiring officers got farmland and that too after meeting a strict criterion, he said.
CANCELLATION: The PAC asked the government to cancel transfer of all plots which some influential people had reportedly acquired in low-lying areas to push them to Islamabad territory.
Mr Gondal said the policy of second plot was in violation of the Constitution which called for equal distribution of resources among the people of the country.
In July 2006, former prime minister Aziz had approved a special “assistance package for BPS-22 officers” under which the officers were given additional one kanal residential plots and their salary was increased by 20 per cent.
Mr Gondal said he had already talked to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf who had assured him that directives of the PAC would be implemented.
At a meeting of the committee last week, Mr Gondal had warned that he would approach the Supreme Court if the government did not implement his committee’s directives on the issue of allotment of plots.
The PAC also recommended to the government to stop giving plots to bureaucrats who worked in the Capital Development Authority on deputation.
Throughout the proceedings, Auditor General of Pakistan Akhtar Buland Rana tried to persuade members of the committee to favour the policy of allotment of second plot to BPS-22 officers.




DAWN

Plight of old pensioners


THE government has constituted a Pay and Pension Committee to ameliorate the lot of its working and retired employees. The government deserves our appreciation regarding it.
The committee has finalised and submitted its report to the government, recommending certain financial relief for its present employees, as well as for its pensioners.
Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to mention with regret that the government’s past decisions have brought about disparities in the rates of pension. This has resulted in the creation of different pensions within the same class of pensioners.
Government employees who had retired on or before June 30, 1986 are the worst sufferers of pensionary benefits as the pay scales that existed at the time were low, the basis on which pensions and commutations were calculated, resulting in low rates of both pension as well as of commutation. Only a negligible, i.e. 10 per cent, increase in pension was sanctioned at the time which was lost due to the subsequent increase in the prices of daily-use items.
It is recalled that the Federal Ombudsman in the past had seriously viewed the vast disparities in the rates of pension, as pointed out in his detailed categorical findings with advice to the government for the removal of such disparities.
The Federal Shariyat Court had also considered it and had given a similar decision.
All pensioners are equal in their respective grades, irrespective of their date of retirement. All are living in the same society, facing similar socioeconomic problems. Therefore, there should not have been any disproportion in the rates of pension.However, sadly the then government had regretted to honour the above advice/decision on the plea of paucity of funds. This has caused injustice to old pensioners and is also contrary to Islamic principles and the constitution.
The old pensioners are a weak, ailing and diminishing community. A formidable increase in the prices of edibles and other important items has made their life even more miserable.
It is appealed to the prime minister to consider the plight of old pensioners who had retired on or before June 30, 1986 and sanction a suitable increase in their pension. Besides, all disparities in the rates of pension should be removed as soon as possible. This is bound to eliminate all feelings of frustration and helplessness among the old pensioners.
HASEEN AHMED SIDDIQUI
Accounts Officer (Retd)
Ex-T&T Dept
Karachi


DAWN

Plaint against AGPR

I RETIRED from the ministry of foreign affairs, Islamabad, on March 15, 1991. After completion of 15 years of the mandatory period, my commuted part of pension was revived but without including the various increases granted by the government from time to time.
On the other hand, under the judgment of the Lahore High Court, two retired bureaucrats were granted increment on the commuted pension by the AGPR. This benefit is not being granted to me. The FST and the Supreme Court already upheld the judgment of the Lahore High Court and I have already forwarded the copies of judgments to the AGPR, Islamabad.
Unfortunately, the AGPR is not granting me all the increments on the commuted amount that accrued on my pension during the period of commutation till the date of restoration. The mala fide action of the AGPR falls within the purview of the contempt of court and is a clear violation of Article 25 of the Constitution.
AIJAZ AHMAD AZAD
Islamabad


DAWN

Short-staffed NAB means corrupt officials go scot-free


ISLAMABAD: The country’s top corruption watchdog revealed that close to 400 civil servants embezzled around Rs300 billion during the past four years, but prosecution process against them remains snail-paced due to staff shortage.

Last month, NAB Chairman claimed that government departments were losing 10 to 12 billion rupees on a daily basis owing to corruption. Some Rs7.8 billion of the total embezzlement figure has been recovered, and investigation in most of the cases is in progress.
However, due to lack of manpower in the bureau, the prosecution process remained slow, said NAB spokesperson Zaffar Iqbal Khan. Some Rs300 billion of the embezzled amount can be readily recovered if action is taken against these personnel, he said.
Some 396 civil servants guilty of embezzling millions of rupees should be brought to justice, NAB told the Ministry of Law and Justice.
Province-wise figures
Official documents obtained by The Express Tribune show that investigators ‘nabbed’ 82 civil servants from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 83 from Balochistan, 76 from Punjab, 55 from Sindh, and 100 others from miscellaneous government services on charges of corruption and misuse of authority.
Punjab has been the worst-hit by the tide of corruption. Five officials are reported to have embezzled over Rs2 billion at Transport Departments Punjab (TDP).
Furthermore, the bureau unearthed embezzlement in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). It alleged that the distribution of BISP forms was marked with corrupt practices. Four senior officials of National Engineering Services Pakistan Limited also misused their authority by misappropriating over Rs6 million.
Two former district officers of Quetta embezzled Rs9 million and fraudulently deposited money allocated to the poor.
Bank officials bear no clean slate. A senior official of National Bank of Pakistan, Abdul Qadir Jangda willfully defaulted bank loans amounting to Rs254 million. Manager of Allied Bank Limited Quetta branch, Muhammad Naeem, along with four other officers embezzled Rs27 million. Their cases are currently under trial. Branch Manager United Bank Limited, Muhammad Nawaz Qazi along with two other officers misappropriated Rs12.2 million.
Security personnel’s share
Some security personnel were also found guilty. Haji Zaro Jan, Superintendent of Frontier Corps embezzled Rs20 million. His case is under trial. Ajmal Khan, a clerk serving for the Frontier Corps, allegedly embezzled Rs8 million as assets beyond his means were found in his account.
Former Secretary General, Institute of Engineering, Pakistan, Chaudhry Muhammad Rashid Khan embezzled Rs22.5 million and his assets were found beyond means.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2012.

33 promoted to top grade: Govt issues civil service guidelines


ISLAMABAD: With the promotion of 33 officers to the highest BPS-22 on Wednesday, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf also approved comprehensive guidelines for streamlining the civil service.
An official memorandum issued to this effect referred to the Dec 12 Supreme Court judgment on a petition filed by an official, Anita Turab, for protection of civil servants after a PPP candidate, Waheeda Shah, was caught on camera slapping a member of the polling staff during a by-election in Tando Mohammad Khan in March. In April 2010, the SC had demoted 54 federal secretaries promoted by then prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in violation of rules and asked the government to re-frame promotion rules.
According to the memorandum, no civil servant will be transferred unnecessarily. “The normal specified tenure must be respected and may not be varied except for compelling reasons which should be recorded in writing and would be defendable if subjected to judicial scrutiny.”
Even if there were pressing needs for the transfer of a civil servant, the officer appointed on a post must be allowed to earn at least one annual performance evaluation report, it said.It said the provision of making a civil servant an ‘officer on special duty (OSD)’ should be invoked only under extreme circumstances and the period should be restricted to the minimum possible time.
The government has barred all departments, divisions and provinces from using the option of unilateral surrender of officers which in the past had been extensively used to victimise honest officers. If they intended to change an officer, the matter must be taken up with the establishment division and the provincial departments dealing with his service matters for appropriate action.
The SC order had addressed in detail issues pertaining to appointments, removal and promotions of the civil servants and asked the government not to interfere with the tenure of a posting.
“Civil servants owe their first and foremost allegiance to the law and the Constitution. They are not bound to obey orders from superiors which are illegal or are not in accordance with accepted practices and rule-based norms; instead, in such situations they must record their opinion and, if necessary, dissent,” the judgment said.
A federal secretary said all these provisions were already available but their reiteration under the SC order would help the government and the officers to implement them in letter and spirit.


The promoted officers are Malik Abdus Samad, Ansar Javed, Shahid Rahim Shaikh, Fayyaz Ahmad Leghari, Arif Ikram, Abdul Wadood Shah, Ahsan Raja, Abid Saeed, Naveed Akram Cheema, Nasir Hayat, Jamil Amjad, Mohammad Ali Gardezi, Shahidullah Baig, Agha Nadeem, Sajjad Saleem Hothiana, Mohammad Shehzad Arbab, Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, Hasan Nawaz Tarar, Seerat Asghar Jora, Mohammad Arshad Bhatti, Munir Qureshi, Rasheed Ahmad, Manzoor Ali Khan, Naveed Salimi, Rukhsana Shah, Shama Ehsan Khan, Ahmad Rasool Bangash, Tanvir Ahmad, Tahir Saeed, Abdul Malik Abdullah, Syed Hasan Javed, Ikramullah Masood and Noor Mohammad Jadmani.

DAWN

Political connections and promotions

T was susprising to read how Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf’s son-in-law Raja Azeemul Haque has got promotions in the recent past. He has been elevated to Grade 21 from Grade 18 within four years and now he has been nominated, out of turn, executive director of the World Bank in Washington. Thanks to the Supreme Court for having taken notice of the issue and summoning Raja Azeem.
According to media reports, the quick promotions of Raja Azeem in the last few years have raised many eyebrows. Raja Azeem was working as Grade 18 officer at the income-tax group when the PPP came to power in 2008. After the PPP formed government, Raja Azeem left the job and was appointed by the Employees Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI) in Grade 20 about two years ago.
When Raja Perez became the prime minister, Raja Azeem was promoted to Grade 21. He is also now serving as additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. Media reports also claim that batchmates of Raja Azeem are in Grade 18, while he is in Grade 21.
M. MAHMOOD
Karachi


DAWN

Recruitment issues in Punjab


THIS refers to the recent woes of the Punjab Public Service Commission. Lately, it has become a habit of the PPSC not to proceed after advertising jobs. A recent example is the advertisement for the posts of tehsildar in BPS 16, for which examinations have not been conducted even after a year. The candidates also suffered a great deal earlier this year.
The PPSC in its premier examinations — Provincial Management Services — caused constant delays of more than a year that followed an acute mismanagement in conducting the same. The results of the written part for the same are yet awaited even after six months.
The point is that if the commission faces challenges in proceeding to conduct examinations after a job advertisement, which according to usual practice is three months after the closing date, it should duly inform the candidates.
The practice of painful delays not only deprives the applicants from a momentum, it also causes them to lose faith in the prestigious institution and meritocracy.
The relevant authorities must consider the agony of unemployed but educated youths who as a result suffer a great deal. I wish the PPSC was some kind of a passage which could be transformed by construction and digging with all kinds of strange machinery because that is all that seems to be the topmost priority nowadays.
ANWARUL HAQUE CHISHTI
Lahore


DAWN

Recruitment in NAB