Commission to probe Nandipur case is a total fraud: PAT

LAHORE: [30-09-15] The newly formed commission to investigate the Nandipur Power Project is eyewash and a total fraud as the commission’s Terms of Reference do not give it powers to probe the corruption and irregularities committed in the project.

This was stated by the Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Noorullah Sadique while briefing newsmen here on Wednesday. He said the commission’s jurisdiction is only to adopt delaying tactics as the government wants to get its policies implemented through retired judges of superior courts. He said in the first case no findings of such commission have ever seen the light of the day and if any has come its recommendations have never been implemented and have been thrown into the trashcan.
Noorullah said that the Nandipur Project case is not related to technical faults rather it is the case of a mega scandal. He said that the prime minister had promised to get a free and fair investigation into the scandal and punishment will be awarded to those found responsible. But to the astonishment of everybody the commission was never given a mandate to investigate the corruption committed during the installation of the project and paved the way to give a clean chit to the persons responsible for corruption. He said major players of the government are involved in corruption in the Nandipur project and the government has to protect them at all costs, but their names are appearing in the media every day. He said two former prime ministers, 2 federal ministers and one chief minister are involved in corruption in this project that is why the commission was never assigned to point out the names of those involved in corruption in this project.

The PAT Information Secretary said that PAT demands that National Accountability Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence personal should be included in the commission and the sole purpose of this commission should be to name the persons who have committed corruption in this project. He said the government should also get the services of Chartered Accountants of international repute.
The PAT spokesman said that the government has got investigations into the Model Town tragedy by a serving Judges but when the findings of the commission did not come in favour of the government, it was decided by the concerned authorities not to accept the findings. He said what significance will the findings of a commission be which is being headed by a retired judge. He said the government is also planning to give the Nandipur project on lease only to earn more kickbacks and commissions. He asked that why is the money of the tax payers being wasted on such expensive projects, when the government does not have the ability to run them?