The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has taken strong notice of recent claims about Pakistani bureaucrats allegedly purchasing property in Portugal, as well as serious fraud allegations involving the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The committee, chaired by Junaid Akbar, convened to address multiple issues, summoning several government departments for detailed briefings.
Inquiry Into Overseas Property Purchases
The PAC decided to summon representatives from the Ministry of Interior, State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and other relevant authorities in its next meeting to investigate Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s recent remarks. The goal is to obtain complete records to determine which officials have acquired property in Portugal.
PAC members stressed the importance of transparency, noting that such foreign investments by government employees warrant strict scrutiny to ensure compliance with laws and prevent misuse of public resources.
Haj Fraud Investigation
The committee also reviewed audit objections concerning the Ministry of Religious Affairs, including a major embezzlement case involving accounting officer Muhammad Kaleem. The officer is accused of diverting Rs12 million in remittances, allegedly causing significant financial losses to the ministry.
PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar questioned the oversight and accountability mechanisms within the ministry, particularly asking what the Director General of Haj was doing while such irregularities took place.
Secretary of Religious Affairs Dr. Syed Attaur Rehman informed the committee that the ministry had digitised its systems to prevent such incidents in the future. However, concerns were raised over the lack of progress in apprehending the accused.
Accused Still at Large
Officials disclosed that Kaleem had secured a Canadian visa before the fraud came to light and is now believed to be living abroad. The ministry stated that they had contacted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to register an FIR and had dismissed him from service.
Despite these actions, Senator Afnanullah Khan pointed out that no red warrants had been issued, no property had been confiscated, and no significant recovery efforts had been made over the last four years. According to the FIA, Kaleem and his spouse, both declared absconders, were last traced to the United States.
PAC members pressed the Ministry of Interior on whether Interpol had been contacted for extradition efforts, but no concrete steps were confirmed. The total embezzled amount is estimated at around Rs43 million.
Staffing Concerns in Saudi Arabia
The committee also raised questions about the number of Pakistani officials posted in Saudi Arabia for Haj-related duties. Lawmakers suggested reducing the number of staff sent from Pakistan and instead hiring more locally based workers for seasonal roles.
Senator Mohsin Aziz criticised the lack of visible work by some officials during Haj operations. The Secretary of Religious Affairs clarified that only Haj assistants, who are government employees, are sent on these assignments at no personal cost. He proposed that from next year, only officials in Grade 11 and above be appointed for these duties.
Next Steps
The PAC plans to continue probing both the alleged overseas property purchases and the long-standing Haj embezzlement case, demanding that recovery efforts be intensified and accountability measures strengthened.
