Will they quit or not? by Ansar Abbasi

[LahoreEstate]

By Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: The government’s formal announcement of the long list of NRO beneficiaries, which is likely to be turned into a hit list, brings immediate pressure, both moral and public, on those still holding public offices to resign.

Such beneficiaries include the president of Pakistan, a governor, five federal ministers, at least three ambassadors, a few key representatives of Pakistan in international financial institutions, some top bureaucratic appointees and others. Generally, it is argued that the president enjoys constitutional immunity and could not be tried for any past or present criminal charges because of which President Asif Ali Zardari is secure from being dragged into the courts till the completion of his term.

The same immunity is also enjoyed by provincial governors, which means that Sindh Governor Ishratul Abad too has nothing to worry about the re-opening of criminal cases that were registered against him but settled under the NRO.

However, others, including federal ministers and key political or bureaucratic advisers, appointees or those holding ambassadorial positions, could be arrested, tried in a court of law and even jailed because they do not enjoy the kind of immunity that is available to the head of the state or a provincial governor.

It is yet to be seen if the NRO beneficiaries, who are still holding public offices, would show the grace to quit or they would be made to quit until they prove their innocence before the court of law.

Amongst the federal ministers, the NRO beneficiaries include Interior Minister Rehman Malik (facing cases of embezzlement of funds on account of unauthorised release of imported yellow cabs, illegal detention of complainant and illegal gratification), Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar (charged with misuse of authority in issuing sugar export permit to non-entitled persons in 1994 as the commerce minister), Ports and Shipping Minister Babar Khan Ghauri, Overseas Pakistanis Minister Farooq Sattar and Minister of State for Housing Tariq Anis (charged with having assets beyond means). Sindh Minister Siraj Durrani and certain MQM provincial ministers and MPAs are also included in the list of such beneficiaries.

Amongst the ambassadors/ high commissioners on this condemned hit list include Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani (co-accused in Ms Benazir case of TV channels), British national and also Pakistan’s high commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan and a former banker and the country’s ambassador to Tehran MB Abbasi.

Those holding top bureaucratic positions inside or outside Pakistan include Salman Faruqi, principal secretary to the president, Siraj Shamsuddin, former principal secretary to Prime Minister Gilani and presently the executive director of the Asian Development Bank.

Among the MNAs and senators on the hit list include MNA Rana Nazir, MNA Yousaf Talpur, Senator Jehangir Badr, MNA Aftab Sherpao, MNA Farooq Sattar, MNA Tariq Anis and others.

In a strange coincidence, the top NRO beneficiary Asif Ali Zardari is also the holder of top public office — the President of Pakistan. According to the list, the beneficiary No 1 Asif Ali Zardari benefited through the NRO in at least eight NAB cases, including the alleged kickbacks from SGS PSI Company, grant of licence to the ARY Gold causing huge loss to the government, corruption in purchase of Ursus tractors under the Awami Tractor Scheme, illegal award of contract to Cotecna for pre-shipment, assets beyond means, received kickbacks from Sajjad Ahmad (late), ex-chairman Pakistan Steel Mills, illegal construction of polo ground at the Prime Minister’s House and money laundering SGS Swiss case.

All the MQM leaders, including Altaf Hussain, Governor Ishratul Ebad, federal and provincial ministers and MPs are charged with criminal cases and none of them is facing a corruption case in the NAB.

President’s principal secretary Salman Faruqi was accused of illegal allotment of textile quota, forgery and fraud, obtained illegal benefits in connivance with exporters. Former principal secretary to Prime Minister Gilani and presently ADB executive director Siraj Shamsuddin was involved in a case of illegal appointments.

Former NBP president and presently Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran MB Abbasi got himself cleared through the NRO from a case of corruption and corrupt practices and loan default.

http://thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25712