The National Assembly (NA) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday summoned former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar in the dam fund case.
The fund was set up in July, 2018 to collect funds for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams. The website of the Supreme Court had solicited donations in the name of the construction of these dams.
Presiding over a meeting today, PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan said Nisar was a controversial figure and responsible for the fund. PAC member Barjees Tahir said that Rs14 billion were spent on advertisements related to the fund while only Rs9 billion were deposited.
Tahir said that the committee wanted to know why the deposited money has not been spent for the avowed purpose, adding that “they were not threatening judges after all”. PAC member Mushahid Hussain said an inquiry should be held to probe the issue. The committee also summoned the registrar of the Supreme Court for a briefing on the fund.
The committee also issued an arrest warrants for former principal secretary to prime minister Azam Khan. The committee ordered the interior ministry and FIA to prevent Khan from leaving the country. The PAC had earlier summoned Azam Khan in connection with the Malam Jabba and Billion Tree Tsunami cases.
Did he not hand it over to the PM at the time! Charity embezzlement is a specialised crime. A forensic audit will be needed.