Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly has directed the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) to provide the details of alleged financial embezzlements, illegal appointments and many other irregularities in Islamabad Club, Daily Times has learnt.

In a letter, the NA Public Accounts Committee (PAC) wing directed the AGP to provide the details if it conducted the audit for several irregularities in the club, including the alleged illegal appointment of general manager Sikander Ismail on Rs 0.7 million per month salary.

The PAC asked why the club administrator Shahid Khan appointed Sikander Ismail on a huge salary as his predecessor was getting a salary amounting Rs 250,000 monthly for the same position. Besides, many other luxurious benefits were granted to him, the PAC maintained.

Ismail was a former member of the Federal Public Service Commission wherein the NA said that he was using powers unlawfully.

The NA also inquired the reasons for resignations of many employees.

“Due to the ill treatment and humiliation of employees’ administrator Shahid Khan, many employees holding key positions in the club left the organization within three months after assuming charge of administrator by Khan,” the NA wing alleged.

The house further said that the services were terminated without explaining any particular reason, nor were they given prior notices despite the fact that some of these employees had served more than 30 years in the club.

Khan was also alleged by the NA for illegal hiring of staff and awarding contracts in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules. He, the PAC said, suspended project worth over Rs 20 million pertaining construction of a mega marquee.

The sources in the club disclosed that the construction of the marquee was a big multipurpose project, planning to accommodate more than 1,000 people at a time.

Currently, the sources added, the club had no significant space in any of its halls to entertain a large group of gathering.

According to the available information, the list of existing halls of the Islamabad Club includes a Darbar Hall which has formal dining area with capacity of 220 persons.

There is another hall by the name of Jharoka Coffee Shop with a capacity of 45 to 50 people, a family hall for 150 persons, a banquet hall for 50 to 60 persons, P-I hall for 30 people, P-II and P-III halls for 20 people, the MPH hall for 150 persons, a Saddle Room for 25 persons and a fast food café that can house a total of 40 to 50 people.

An official wishing anonymity said that the club does not have any kind of funding from government or other institutions, adding that the members were the only resource for the funding of the club.

“Hence, it is our aim to facilitate these members who paying such hefty amounts and in order to accommodate them we are not charging heavy admission fees from them,” he further maintained.

Under the Islamabad Club Ordinance, 1978, the club is an autonomous entity and the president of Pakistan is its patron-in-chief. Currently, the club has around 7,000 active members and 400 applications are on the waiting list. The club charges Rs 1.5 million from private individuals and Rs 300,000 from government officers as annual membership fee.

When contacted, administrator Khan refused to comment over the matter. “I am not the concerned person to speak on the issue,” he said.

Published in Daily Times, February 12^th 2018.