Corruption scandals of Musharraf regime put on the shelf
August 16, 2013
ISLAMABAD: Corruption scandals of the Musharraf regime, involving over Rs1,000 billion, remained unprobed during the last PPP government and now all the eyes are set on the PML-N government to probe these scams.
This is expected because it was the N-League that had issued a “White Paper” on the loot and plunder under the dictator’s rule. What is, however, extremely disturbing to note is the fact that a few “bad names” reflected in the PML-N’s “White paper” in the mega corruption scandals of Musharraf government are now amongst the “reformers” of the Nawaz Sharif government.
Although, the present govt is also expected to vigorously pursue the mega corruption cases of the last five years, it is feared that the alleged loot and plunder of the public money during Musharraf regime may remain unprobed even now, as part of the forgotten past.
However, as yet the Nawaz Sharif government has not moved even an inch to hold accountable the corrupt and plunderers of the national wealth despite its high-pitched election campaign focusing on corruption as one of the major failures of the PPP regime.
Titled “MEGA SCANDALS & CORRUPTION of General Pervez Musharraf Government”, the PML-N’s White Paper of Musharraf government focused different cases of alleged corruption including the “Pakistan Steel” case regarding which the White Paper claimed that Rs104 billion were being looted.
The details of the Pakistan Steel loot as presented in the N-league’s “White Paper” in detail discussed the role of a dubious buyer, who is now close to the PML-N top leadership and has even been assigned to reform and restructure another key public entity.
The N-league’s White Paper also talked of STOCK EXCHANGE scandal of 2005 and claimed that Rs800 billion were looted in this scam. In this case, the PML-N White Paper referred to newspaper reports in particular focused on the statement of former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Dr Tariq Hassan, who had issued a “White Paper” on the March 2005 stock exchange crash, and claimed he had reached close to a “few big fish” when he was shown the door.
Dr Tariq was removed his post on Eid day when he was all set to order the appointment of forensic investigators to probe the few big brokers held responsible by the task force (for the crash). The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue had ordered the appointment of another team of forensic investigators to probe reports about involvement of 11 high-profile brokers in the Karachi.Some of these brokers, it is said, have also close connections with the key PML-N leaders.
The N-league’s White Paper had also focused on the “Sugar Scandal” of the Musharraf regime and. “The power of sugar cartel is evident from the fact that even the National Accountability Bureau had to shelve its probe into the sugar crisis within three days of its initiation. The cartel can increase prices, exploit farmers and break rules and seem to be above the law.”
Now here is the test for the PML-N government to move against the Sugar cartel for what, as highlighted in its own White Paper, the cartel seems to be above the law.
The N-league’s White Paper had also talked about the OIL CARTEL and said that the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) had become an instrument of exploitation. It alleged, “The cartel suck in Rs9 billion annually into their coffers by providing low quality diesel at exorbitant price through their refineries. In Europe, diesel contains 0.3 percent Sulphur. Our refineries produce a far inferior diesel with sulphur content of 1 percent at the international price of superior diesel.” The White paper also talked about other aspects of the Oil Cartel’s alleged corruption running into billions and billions of rupees.
The PML-N also had a lot of complaints against the Cement Cartel during Musharraf’s rule. Its White Paper noted, “The cement factory owners with their monopoly increased the rates of cement. Monopoly Control Authority is silent on the present increase in cement rates and is not taking action on the unjustified raise. Duty free import of cement from neighbouring countries should be allowed to provide cement on cheaper rates in the market and to save construction industry from crises. A bag of cement in Pakistan is available at Rs300/- whereas in its price in India and China is in the range from Rs100-150. Cement prices in Pakistan have doubled than that of the product in India following the recent price hike of the commodity on this side of the border. Indian cement manufacturers are reportedly marketing their product at Rs145 to Rs150 per bag; which is almost 50 percent less than those in Pakistan even after inculcating the ‘currency exchange factor’”.The White Paper also talked about Pepco, land mafia’s loot, the privatisation of HBL, Pak American Fertilizer, PTCL etc.
This is expected because it was the N-League that had issued a “White Paper” on the loot and plunder under the dictator’s rule. What is, however, extremely disturbing to note is the fact that a few “bad names” reflected in the PML-N’s “White paper” in the mega corruption scandals of Musharraf government are now amongst the “reformers” of the Nawaz Sharif government.
Although, the present govt is also expected to vigorously pursue the mega corruption cases of the last five years, it is feared that the alleged loot and plunder of the public money during Musharraf regime may remain unprobed even now, as part of the forgotten past.
However, as yet the Nawaz Sharif government has not moved even an inch to hold accountable the corrupt and plunderers of the national wealth despite its high-pitched election campaign focusing on corruption as one of the major failures of the PPP regime.
Titled “MEGA SCANDALS & CORRUPTION of General Pervez Musharraf Government”, the PML-N’s White Paper of Musharraf government focused different cases of alleged corruption including the “Pakistan Steel” case regarding which the White Paper claimed that Rs104 billion were being looted.
The details of the Pakistan Steel loot as presented in the N-league’s “White Paper” in detail discussed the role of a dubious buyer, who is now close to the PML-N top leadership and has even been assigned to reform and restructure another key public entity.
The N-league’s White Paper also talked of STOCK EXCHANGE scandal of 2005 and claimed that Rs800 billion were looted in this scam. In this case, the PML-N White Paper referred to newspaper reports in particular focused on the statement of former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Dr Tariq Hassan, who had issued a “White Paper” on the March 2005 stock exchange crash, and claimed he had reached close to a “few big fish” when he was shown the door.
Dr Tariq was removed his post on Eid day when he was all set to order the appointment of forensic investigators to probe the few big brokers held responsible by the task force (for the crash). The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue had ordered the appointment of another team of forensic investigators to probe reports about involvement of 11 high-profile brokers in the Karachi.Some of these brokers, it is said, have also close connections with the key PML-N leaders.
The N-league’s White Paper had also focused on the “Sugar Scandal” of the Musharraf regime and. “The power of sugar cartel is evident from the fact that even the National Accountability Bureau had to shelve its probe into the sugar crisis within three days of its initiation. The cartel can increase prices, exploit farmers and break rules and seem to be above the law.”
Now here is the test for the PML-N government to move against the Sugar cartel for what, as highlighted in its own White Paper, the cartel seems to be above the law.
The N-league’s White Paper had also talked about the OIL CARTEL and said that the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) had become an instrument of exploitation. It alleged, “The cartel suck in Rs9 billion annually into their coffers by providing low quality diesel at exorbitant price through their refineries. In Europe, diesel contains 0.3 percent Sulphur. Our refineries produce a far inferior diesel with sulphur content of 1 percent at the international price of superior diesel.” The White paper also talked about other aspects of the Oil Cartel’s alleged corruption running into billions and billions of rupees.
The PML-N also had a lot of complaints against the Cement Cartel during Musharraf’s rule. Its White Paper noted, “The cement factory owners with their monopoly increased the rates of cement. Monopoly Control Authority is silent on the present increase in cement rates and is not taking action on the unjustified raise. Duty free import of cement from neighbouring countries should be allowed to provide cement on cheaper rates in the market and to save construction industry from crises. A bag of cement in Pakistan is available at Rs300/- whereas in its price in India and China is in the range from Rs100-150. Cement prices in Pakistan have doubled than that of the product in India following the recent price hike of the commodity on this side of the border. Indian cement manufacturers are reportedly marketing their product at Rs145 to Rs150 per bag; which is almost 50 percent less than those in Pakistan even after inculcating the ‘currency exchange factor’”.The White Paper also talked about Pepco, land mafia’s loot, the privatisation of HBL, Pak American Fertilizer, PTCL etc.
