ISLAMABAD, July 25: The government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has referred a case of former rulers including Nawaz and Zardari to Inquiry Commission on Debt to probe lavish spending on foreign trips, security and medical treatments.
Inquiry Commission on Debt will look into unauthorized expenditure incurred on camp offices, security, foreign visits, unjustified use of official airplanes and use of public resources by families of former heads of state and heads government during 2008-2018.
According to a report by web-based Newstoday, the government has also directed all ministries and divisions to verify their own record and identify such spending pertaining to their divisions and ministries and inform commission of Inquiry on Debt for further action. Aviation Division will also put up details of lost business opportunities due to use of Pakistan International Airplanes during 2008-2018.
The decision was taken in a meeting of cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on July 16.
The cabinet was informed that the huge amount of public funds had been spent on maintaining camp offices at various places and on the security. Profuse spending of public money on security, maintenance of private places and travelling was unanimously condemned.
The cabinet was of the considered view that such wasteful expenditure needs a thorough probe at appropriate level and public funds used without any lawful authority should be retrieved from the beneficiaries. So, cabinet decided to refer the issue to the Inquiry Commission on Debt to investigate the issue.
According to details submitted to cabinet, an amount of Rs245 million was spent on the security of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s five camp offices out of which three were located in Lahore and two in Multan.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari also spent Rs3.164 billion on his personal security and entertainment. As many as over 650 law enforcement personnel were deployed to maintain his security at the time when he was not even the president.
Zardari had had 246 cars on the pretext of security in 2015. In 2016 he had fled the country, in 2017 he had 164 cars, and in 2018 he had 158 cars.
Former President Asif Ali Zardari had spent Rs 1.42 billion on 134 foreign visits during 2008 to 2013. He remained out of country for 257 days and was accompanied by 3227 delegation members.
In year 2008, he spent Rs 145.5 million on 11 trips. As many as 261 delegation members were accompanied by him and spent 22 days out of country. In year 2009, he spent Rs 388 million during his 55-day stay abroad on 31 foreign visits. As many as 849 delegation members were accompanied by him. In Year 2010, an amount of Rs 120.5 million was spent on his 19 trips and remained 38 days abroad along with 448 delegations members. In Year 2011, he spent Rs 211.7 million on 31 trips and remained 51 days abroad. As many as 731 delegation members were accompanied by him. – NNI
