Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has expressed displeasure over the release of Rs 420 million funds illegally for the payment of salaries to the former four members of the Election Commission (EC).

The committee has recommended that the responsibility be fixed for releasing Rs 420 million funds illegally and demanded a report in this regard to be worked out and presented before the committee.

The Senate Standing Committee met under its Chairman Salim Mandiwala here at the parliament lodges on Tuesday.

The EC authorities told the committee that the president of Pakistan had issued a notification of appointment of these four members of the EC without conditions and rules and regulations. The EC had pointed out this lapse after two days.

Finance secretary Waqar Masood told the committee that the EC members were appointed during the previous government and it was essential to settle the matter of salaries. The pay has been released with the permission of AGPR.

Chairman Committee Salim Mandiwala said that releasing the public funds without the approval of the parliament was illegal. Millions of rupees had been released on a letter of the finance secretary. The responsibility should be fixed on this count.

Senator Sardar Mohsin Leghari said that the government had failed in discharging its obligations. The members of the EC had gone to their homes after receiving Rs 420 million illegally on account of their salaries during five years and “we are taking up the issue of approval of the funds now”, he said.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that retired judges of high courts had received illegal salaries and allowances therefore, action be initiated against them.

Senator Mohsin Aziz said the appointment of the members of the EC was not approved bt the parliament for certain specific objectives as different results were to be obtained in the election. It is strange that the entire country was run in the names of these four members and they kept on receiving salaries illegally.

It is pertinent to mention that former president Asif Ali Zardari had issued a notification about the appointment of these four members on June, 9, 2011. Justice (Retd) Muhammad Roshan was appointed as member of EC Sindh, justice (Retd) Shahzad Akbar Khan as member EC KP, Justice (Retd) Fazlur Rehman as member EC Balochistan and Justice (Retd) Riaz Kiyani as member EC Punjab. No conditions of services were laid down in the notification.