One time incorruptible ministers from Mushrrafs era are about to face justice. I think more will come out…
Zubaida Jalal lands in major financial scam
Zubaida Jalal lands in major financial scam
Saturday, August 16, 2008
By Rauf Klasra
ISLAMABAD: The former federal minister from Balochistan, Zubaida Jalal, is at the centre of a big scam in the multi-billion rupee education project, as a shocking inquiry report into her alleged role in the financial embezzlement and irregularities has been submitted to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
While the former minister was not available for comments, sources close to her said she would fight the charges at every forum. Once the favourite lady education minister of Musharrafís first cabinet after the military coup of October 12, 1999, Jalal was introduced to the whole world as an enlightened moderate and a role model for the Baloch and Pakistani women.
Sadly, she also has ended up facing serious allegations of misuse of funds at her own residence and offices. She is also facing charges of openly protecting the most corrupt officers who, with her sweet blessings, were making millions of rupees right under her nose from literacy and feeding projects, which were launched in her province to teach and give food to the backward Baloch children in schools.
Jalal was so portrayed to the world for her role in spread of education that even US Secretary of State Ms Rice had invited her to the White House, triggering the speculation that she may one day end up becoming the countryís prime minister.
The shocking allegations have been levelled against Jalal by PMís Inspection Commission (PMIC) inquiry report, saying she presided over the process of payment of millions of rupees in cash given to many dubious companies in the name of renovation of her residence and office and other such expenses without any authorisation.
These investigations were earlier ordered by PM Gilani after receiving reports about massive irregularities in the execution of a project that was launched to provide food to Baloch children between the age of 5 and 12 years.
The PMIC has now submitted a six-page report to PM Gilani, which reveals: ìThere is ample evidence to believe that Irfanullah Khan (main culprit of the scam) had the patronage of Zubaida Jalal and a lady senator from Balochistan, who always saved him from any accountability or action on account of his corruption in the execution of two projects, which he was handling in Balochistan."
The report said Irfanullah was so protected by minister Jalal that after he was suspended on charges of corruption in the Education ministry, he was given another project in Social Welfare Ministry after Jalal was given the portfolio when Shaukat Aziz took the charge as the prime minister.
PM Gilani has been told that the officer being held responsible for the scam was so close to the minister that in the Social Welfare Ministry in 2005, she handed him over a multi-billion project, which was also suspended after serious allegations of corruption.
The amounts were given to project director of Balochistan Irfanaullah Khan to provide food to children in Balochistan schools. But, in the end, it has now been learnt that he, along with the minister, misappropriated the amount.
According to the inquiry report, PM Gilani had directed the PMIC to inquire into alleged financial irregularities committed by those who were executing the non-formal literacy project in Balochistan and then the Tawana Pakistan Project (TPP).
According to the inquiry report, the Benazir Bhutto government had launched the literacy project in 1995 with an amount of Rs 1.2 billion, an amount which was later increased. In 2005, the Ministry of Education initiated an inquiry into the alleged corruption and misappropriation of funds by officers and staff of the NFBE Balochistan.
The 30-page report clearly stated that Irfanullah Khan, who had been director of the NFBE Balochistan for almost 10 years, did not exercise financial and administrative controls expected of him as the head of the provincial office. He indulged in nepotism and excessive spending without following the code formalities. He used his position to provide undue favour to his political benefactors.
As a reward for his corruption, he was given another multi-billion project by the Social Welfare Ministry after Zubaida Jalal took over its charge in 2005. The second project in Balochistan, the TPP project for girls, was approved in 2002 with an outlay of Rs 3 billion for a period of 54 months to address the nutritional needs of school children between the age of 5 and 12 years.
The executing agency was the Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education. The project remained operational till June 2005. Feeding activities were suspended on account of ineffective procedures of execution and lack of proper administration of work. Consequently, a third party evaluation was held to assess the performance of the TPP.
Though the project was suspended, Irfanullah Khan was appointed the National Project Director on June 30, 2005. He was transferred from the Ministry of Education in 2005, shortly after Zubaida Jalal became the minister of social welfare and special education.
The timings of the postings and appointments were clearly indicative of Zubaida Jalalís patronage he enjoyed. Notwithstanding the fact that the project stood suspended, Irfanullah started to spend the fund without proper approval or authorisation in total disregard of the government rules and procedures. ìUnfortunately, the minister Zubaida ignored his activities,î the report said.
Huge amounts were spent on irregular appointments of officer and staff, the report said, adding that big contracts were awarded in violation of government rules and regulations, while the MOUs, which had no legal importance, were signed. Irregular payments were made to various firms on account of base line survey. Payments were also made to a large number of firms and companies without any legal authority.
After the suspension of the project, the Bait-ul-Maal, as one of the executing partners, stopped the payment from its accounts. However, Irfanullah Khan prevailed upon the ministry to get the bank accounts transferred to his organisation. An amount of Rs 571 million in two accounts with the National Bank of Pakistan was put under his control. The expenditures and appointments of personnel made by Irfanullah were far beyond his power as the project director. The report said the two inquiry reports established that Irfanullah Khan enjoyed the political patronage of Zubaida Jalal and one female senator.
The projects that he headed were under the same federal minister in two different ministries. He was also able to circumvent the senior bureaucracy through his easy access to the minister and his other political benefactors.
