An audit of Nandipur Power Project, Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park and Sahiwal coal power projects should be carried out by Pakistan Army and Rangers, says an adjournment motion submitted by Leader of Opposition Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Deputy Leader Sibtain Khan in the Punjab Assembly secretariat on Thursday.The motion says that the audit would reveal corruption in the Nandipur Power Project. Rashid said the cabinet had taken notice of the corruption in the project a year ago and recently, the prime minister had pointed out delays in the project. He said nothing had been done about it. He said Pakistan Army and Rangers should be called in for an audit. Apart from Nandipur in Punjab, members of the ruling PML-N are said to be the prime target of these investigations into corruption, with provincial Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ali Khan being one of the many prominent persons under the radar. Investigations are also covering the allegations against other ministers and members of parliament, including MNA Iftikharul Hassan. In many ways, this is welcome news. It may help alter the opinions of those who demanded that the military step in to the arena of corruption investigation; a purely civilian area under the law of the land. We do not need the military to expand its ring of influence and divert from its true purpose. It is now hoped that NAB is able to act efficiently and bring forward the real facts in the cases it is investigating. Any failure in doing so, will lead to further problems. Along with PML-N leaders, former PPP parliamentarian Qasim Zia is also being investigated and a charge sheet against him has been presented before courts. This should help send out the message of the lack of discrimination and willingness to go after corruption wherever it exists. Each case will be followed with considerable interest given that, for a long time, fingers had been pointed at the lack of action in Punjab, even while a massive swoop against corruption continues in Sindh. NAB has come under much criticism in the past for its lack of follow-up in major corruption scandals. It needs to silence its critics now.
pk.shafaqna.com
