PAC Orders FBR to Lodge FIR Against Four Telecom Companies
Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly has directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to lodge First Investigation Report (FIR) against Directors of 4 telecom companies within 48 hours for stealing tax worth Rs. 320 million in fiscal year of 2006-07. The committee met here on Wednesday under chairmanship of Opposition leader in the National Assembly Ch. Nisar Ali Khan in which audit report of FBR for financial year of 2008-09 were reviewed in length.
The Chairman PAC also asked FBR to freeze assets of directors of 4 telecom companies including Dencom, Global Telecom, Union Communication and World Call and must recover tax from them.
The committee also sought report from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) with regard to canceling license of these telecom companies and asked Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) not to transfer house of Board of Director Dencom Muhammad Luqman on name of any other.
Opposition leader in the National Assembly Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said he would protest before Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for appointing Director Dencom Laeq Sheik as Member Privatization Commission board.
Chairman PAC also asked Chairman FBR Sohail Ahmed to make better budget system of his department and funds should be utilized properly. Upon this, the authorities of Federal Finance Ministry told the committee that Government has devised midterm budgetary framework to remove mistakes in budget system. Under the new plan, they said, budget sealing would be given to Principal Account Officers for three years from next financial year.
During the committee meeting, the Chairman PAC expressed serious concern over reinstatement of officers and employees of FBR despite their involvement in refunding tax to a telecom and other companies illegally.
The committee chairman also made it clear that action would be taken against Secretary Revenue division Suleman Saddique for reinstating such employees.
Chairman Zahid Hamid said that Dencom Limited is defaulter of Rs. 1 billion to Pakistan Telecomm Authority (PTA).
Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan has said that the concerned officers of FBR also tried to mislead the court, however the court decided the verdict against these officers but the government restored the corrupt officers by wrong interpretation of the verdict.
Chairman FBR, Sohail Ahmed in this regard tendered his apology in the meeting, over not taking the permission from PAC in reinstating collector Rawalpindi, adding Federal Secretary Revenue Division, Salman Saddique signed on the summary sent for the reinstatement of the said officer.
Chairman PAC on this said that the committee would hold the Secretary Revenue Division responsible on working against the rules and explanation would be sought from him, adding the secretary revenue used his name and the issue would be discussed with the prime minister as well as the issue to be raised in the Parliament. He urged FBR not to protect looters.
Chairman PAC Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan directed the implementation of directives issued by PAC in the past, adding he has already discussed the issue with the prime minister, adding PAC does not need any approval from the government in this regard.
It is relevant to mention here that differences emerged first time in PAC as member committee, Nadeem Afzal Chan urged that the committee instead of focusing on only one person should pay attention on recoveries.
Another member Hamid Yar Hiraj said that Dencom company was owned by Governor Punjab and later it was sold to Oman Tell. Chairman PTA in this regard told the committee that Dencom company is defaulter of Rs. 1.22 billion to PTA and the case is in Supreme Court.
Chairman PAC termed it a big dacoity, saying the committee would talk with Attorney General for earliest hearing of the case, saying the said company looted an amount of Rs. 1.2 billion from the national exchequer.
Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan further stated that the incumbent government has appointed Laiq Sheikh, a director of Dencom company as member of Privatization Commission Board, adding the name of the director also put on Exit Control List (ECL). He said that the issue of awarding an important post to the director of a defaulter company would be discussed with the prime minister.
PAC has also directed Chairman CDA to seek permission from PAC before selling a house in Sector F-8/2 as the name was registered on the name of another director of the company Muhammad Luqman.
PAC also directed FBR to register a FIR against all directors of Dencom Telecom Company, World Call, Global Telecomm and Union Communication and freeze assets of all directors of four companies and recover tax worth of Rs. 320 million.
(Source: OnlineNews)
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