ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal while directing inquiry against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for use of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) government’s helicopters asked in what capacity Imran Khan had taken the helicopters for personal use.
Imran Khan joined the galaxy of those politicians who have come under the radar of the NAB for misusing authority for reportedly using two official helicopters of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister. NAB chairman ordered inquiry against Imran Khan and KP CM Pervaiz Khattak for misuse of authority and private use of official helicopters on cheaper price.
The NAB chairman has directed KP Bureau’s director general to conduct an inquiry against PTI chairman Pervaiz Khattak for reportedly 74-hour unofficial use of two KP government’s helicopters, MI-17 and Ecureuil on cheaper prices by misuse of authority. NAB chairman has sought report in this regard.
According to reports, Imran Khan had used MI-17 for 22 hours and Ecureuil Helicopter for 52 hours.
According to report, the expenditure of 74 hours of flying were Rs28,000 an hour. The total cost of flying hours was Rs2,107,181 (Rs2.1072 million).
According to report, PTI chairman, if chartered an MI-17 helicopter from private firm, the rates could be from Rs10 lakh to Rs12 lakh an hour whereas the per hour expenditure of chartering an Ecurreuil helicopter from a private firm could be from Rs500,000 to Rs600,000 an hour.
According to Principal Adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on technical training and aviation, the per hour expenditure of an official helicopter was from Rs150,000 to Rs200,000 and PTI chairman should have pay the amount on use of official helicopter.
A total payable should be Rs111,100,000 but the amount mentioned in the official documents is only Rs2.1072 million.
According to the report, the PTI chairman used MI-17 for his private visits to Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Battagram, Dir and Kamrat from Banigala (Islamabad). Likewise, Imran Khan had used Ecureuil helicopter for his private visits to Peshawar, Kohat, Abbottabad, Haripur, Chitral, Swat and Nowshera from Banigala (Islamabad).
The NAB chairman directed KP NAB DG to inquire whether the CM had legal power to give sensitive assets like helicopters for private use.
He also directed the KP NAB to inquire on what pretext Imran Khan had been allowed to use of official helicopters. “Whether the helicopters had been given to other persons also for private use,” he directed.
He directed to inquire whether the CM had misused his authority or not. “The basic aim of NAB's inquiry is to ban the misuse of official helicopters,” he further directed.
Meanwhile, PTI’s core group welcomed the NAB’s notice to initiate a probe into use of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s helicopters by the party chairman Imran Khan asking NAB to conduct an inquiry into the use of planes and copters of other provinces as well.
PTI meeting, presided over by Imran Khan here, categorically refuted the allegations stating that PTI chairman never used copters for personal use and that KP government would soon respond to the NAB notice.
PTI asked NAB to hear its petition against Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif seeking his qualification for not declaring his foreign domicile, Iqama and foreign bank accounts, at the earliest.
The forum had detailed discussions on the current political situation and also deliberated upon issuance of party tickets to possible candidates for the upcoming Senate elections, as it is aimed at pocketing at least seven seats. Imran summoned the party’s parliamentary board meeting on Sunday to finalise names for the Senate polls. There are reports that some MPAs, belonging to PTI, are considering not to vote for the party candidates, as they are unhappy with the provincial government as well as party leadership.
A statement issued at the conclusion of the core group’s meeting, said that PTI leadership deliberated upon strategies for upcoming Senate elections and also contemplated on the distribution of party tickets. It is stated that the PTI parliamentary board will take decision regarding candidature for the Senate elections.
PTI strongly condemned the reports of horse trading prior to elections of the Upper House of Parliament.
The party’s core group lauded Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and said that there could be no comparison between the autonomous, depoliticised and professional KP police and totally politicised and non-professional Sindh and Punjab police. KP Police Act has completely reformed the police department and has restored public’s trust whereas in other provinces it is used to victimise opponents. PTI categorically stated that the perpetrators of Kohat and Mardan incident would soon be booked.
PTI core group mulled over the cases against Sharif family in the accountability court. PTI stressed to conclude the cases against Sharif family within the period specified by the apex court. It has also decided to monitor the cases against Nawaz Sharif and family in the trial court.
PTI core group decided to form three committees titled as Media Committee, Legal Committee and Anti-Corruption Committee.
It has been decided to appoint PTI senior leader Ali Muhammad Khan, Murad Saeed and Shehryar Afridi as spokespersons for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
“Nawaz Sharif has labeled himself and his family’s name as “democracy”. He “appealingly” talks about history meticulously dodging his patron Ziaul Haq’s name”, said PTI Central Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry in a statement responding to the statement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Fawad slammed former prime minister alleging that former military ruler Ziaul Haq’s martial law had paved the way for Nawaz Sharif and likes to make their way to politics. He added that former PM meticulously dodged to talk about his political patron whenever he talked about history. Fawad said that Nawaz Sharif wanted to convince people that the martial laws and coups that favor him are “kosher”.
“If he ever gets the opportunity he will declare him as the sole king of the country”, he remarked. Condemning Nawaz Sharif’s remarks about the judges of the superior court, Fawad stated that failure in taming the courts had led Nawaz Sharif to vituperation and intimidation of judges.
“Asif Saeed Khosa was hailed during Musharraf’s trial and he has become a villain following Panama case”, said Fawad, alleging that Nawaz Sharif is the epitome of hypocrisy.
Fawad said that nation is tired of the politics of hypocrisy and cynicism. He concluded stating that Nawaz Sharif should learn that Sharif family and PML-N had become a chapter of past.
from The News International - Top Story http://ift.tt/2nDLjog
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