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Friday, July 19, 2013
Raja violated oath by doling out funds to favourites, SC told* CJP says development funds should be spent on voters
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Amicus curiae Khawaja Haris contended before the Supreme Court on Thursday that former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had violated his oath by doling out Rs 52 billion among his favourites.
This was stated before a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry that heard the suo motu case over a news report of Daily Times which said that the former prime minister doled out billions of rupees in the form of development funds ten days after having completed his tenure in office.
Khawaja Haris said that no doubt the National Assembly approves but the constitution does not provide discretionary funds to the prime minister. He said that public money could not be utilised for the benefit of any particular person and individual. During the hearing, the chief justice remarked that development funds should be spent on voters who elect the MNAs or MPAs. “If the voters are satisfied then there will be good governance in the country,” the chief justice remarked.
The court noted that Raja Pervez Asharf was not made chief executive of the country for corruption, and he had to maintain transparency. The chief justice said the money was given to then PM Raja to be doled out in a non-transparent manner among his favourites. He added that Rs 6.5 billion were given to notables who were neither members of parliament nor provincial assemblies.
Wasim Sajjad, counsel for Raja Pervez Ashraf, argued that any expenditure approved by the National Assembly in any form or manner whatsoever could be legitimised under the constitution. He further said that any expenditure approved by the National Assembly under supplementary grant in whatsoever form or manner may also be legitimised under the constitution.
He stated: “It was within the power of the National Assembly to decide whether expenditure is allowed specifically or as block grant and the constitution itself provide and control and monitoring of expenditure through monitory authority and Public Accounts Committee of National Assembly.” Waseem Sajjad said parliament had given authority to the prime minister to spend the block grants and it is utilised on his authorization.
Justice Jawwad said that they have been asking for the summaries regarding the matter, but so far they have not been provided. Iftikhar Gilani, counsel for the petitioner in Balochistan development case, said the parliamentarians have to show that they need funds for so and so development project in their areas. Abdul Qahar Khan Waddan, leader of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Balochistan filed the petition regarding illegalities in development schemes last years.
Quoting the system in other countries, Gilani argued that funds were released to district authorities and not to individuals. He said that Fauzia Behram, an ex-MPA of Pakistan People’s Party (Parliamentarian), had spent Rs 4.2 million of development fund on construction of a swimming pool, car parking and boundary wall. The case has been adjourned until July 22.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk