| Rs 1.7bn alleged fraud in the name of Musharraf |
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The Defence Ministry is probing an alleged fraud of Rs 1.72 billion in the new Islamabad Airport project, committed in the name of President General Pervez Musharraf and the institution of Pakistan Army.According to unconfirmed reports, the Defence Ministry contacted President Musharraf, who asked the ministry to initiate a probe. The alleged fraud, which has not yet been investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), allegedly involves commissions and kickbacks in the purchase of land for the new Islamabad airport being constructed near Fatehjang by the CAA.
Both the Defence Ministry and the CAA presently do not find themselves in a position to comment anything on this issue at this stage, as certain questions raised about the alleged fraud by the ministry two months back have not yet been responded by the CAA.
However, sources in the CAA confided to this correspondent that the involvement of its certain senior officers is blocking an immediate inquiry into the matter. They warned that some of those involved in this fraud are packing their bags to flee Pakistan before the long arm of the law reaches them. It is alleged in the complaint that one CAA official has been misusing the name of Musharraf and senior uniformed officers working in the Army House and General Headquarters (GHQ).
Interestingly, this is perhaps the first-ever case of its kind, where an official file on corruption contains Musharraf’s name although the complaint clearly said that the president’s name was misused. It was an anonymous complaint, which normally is not entertained but in this case the Defence Ministry moved because of strong evidence attached with it.
The allegation is apparently not true as Musharraf’s name never surfaced in any corruption case during the last eight years. However, it is yet to be seen whether the allegation was result of a conspiracy or based on facts.
The huge corruption is alleged in the deal of about 5,000 Kanal land purchased for the New Islamabad International Airport from various places. It is charged that the CAA officials fixed the rate of land as Rs 475,000 per Kanal whereas the existing rate in these areas is Rs 130,000 per Kanal as reported by the land revenue department of the area. It is also said that there were certain parties, which were offering sale of land at low prices but they were ignored.
Interestingly, it was the general manager estates, CAA headquarters, who had protested against this deal by producing facts and figures on the basis of average sale rate of land in the local market and wrote his note to the Authority.
Defence Ministry’s letter No F 3(31)/83-P&D dated August 7 signed by Deputy Secretary Abid Hussain, and addressed to the director-general CAA raised certain questions that despite the lapse of over two months remained unanswered. The subject of the letter is: “CORRUPTION AND MALPRACTICE ON HUGE SCALE BY BRIG (retd) PERVEZ BASHIR, REGIONAL DIRECTOR CAA, UNDER THE PROTECTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN, AND USING THE NAME OF HONOURABLE INSTITUTE OF PAK ARMY.”
The letter said that as per government instructions anonymous letters are normally ignored. “However, keeping in view dissenting note of a member of the purchase committee viz Mr Fida Hussain, GM Estates, HQCAA, Karachi, it has been desired to ascertain the following to further investigate the matter:
(a) Documentary proof to the fact that as per record of the Revenue Department, assessed per kanal average price of the land, in the area of Chak Patthu is Rs 123,000.
(b) Documentary proof that certain owners such as Mr Subah Sadiq and six others had offered their land for sale to the committee at a lower rate.
(c) The element of urgency involved in the matter, as claimed by the CAA, should be determined in the light of available record, as the CAA had adopted the method of limited quotations on the plea of urgency involved in the matter.”
Close family sources of Pervez Bashir, when contacted, denied charges of corruption and malpractice against him.
Defence Ministry officials when contacted had got confirmation from the CAA about the investigation. A reminder to this effect was issued to the CAA on August 25 but the Authority has not yet responded despite the ministry’s request that details should be provided to it on priority.
When contacted, the DG CAA was found abroad while his deputy and acting DG Air Vice Marshal Safdar was also out of station. Staff Officer to the DG CAA Squadron Leader Javed, however, facilitated this correspondent to talk to CAA acting Director Estate Atique.
Atique confirmed that the Defence Ministry had sought investigations into the matter but said that these investigations were presently in preliminary stages.
“Right now we are gathering the facts but it would be the CAA management to take a decision if a full-fledged inquiry is required into the matter,” the CAA official said. When asked about the delay in the CAA’s response to the Defence Ministry, the official said that such matters needed adequate time.
While the CAA seems to be reluctant to pursue the matter aggressively, the authority’s GM Estate Fida Hussain showed extraordinary guts to uncover the secrets of the land purchase deal.
About a committee constituted for the acquisition of the land, he wrote: “The committee made for negotiation with land owners had not catered for the interest of the CAA.” He revealed that the committee had not made any negotiation with Subah Sadiq and six others, who appeared before the committee claiming their land holding as 181 Kanals out of 320 Kanals in Chak Phattu block. He revealed that they demanded Rs 250,000 per Kanal and negotiations, if made, would have brought this price down to Rs 225,000.
“The negotiations were debarred on the plea that it will lead to corruption,” Fida wrote, adding that the negotiations made with two property dealers and one Naib Nazim of the area, are not covered under any enactment, as such deal with few interested persons does not find mention in any of law, rules of the government.
“The price of Rs 475,000 per Kanal for Chak Phattu block arrived at with Major (retd) Sohail (estate agent),” he said, revealing that land of Chak Phattu as per average yearly cost of revenue authority is Rs 123,000 against which the CAA intends to pay Rs 475,000 per Kanal.
He concluded by saying: “Please remain witness that all above mentioned points have repeatedly been narrated by me before the committee in its various meetings.”
Users' Comments (1) |
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16-01-2008 14:45, IP 213.130.20.97, Guest I don't know when our high officials and Leader's will compelte any project without any case of corruption.I think we will do such project,it will be the first step for real development of pakistan.When they will start think about pakistan and stop thinking about themselves.Because we are today just because of pakistan.PAKISTAN should be first.As Former army chief mentioned many times early |
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