Adviser to KP CM says 186-page IMF report a charge sheet against govt record

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on finance, Muzzammil Aslam, on Thursday lashed out at the government over a scathing 186-page report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July, accusing the federal government of deliberately withholding the damning document.

The IMF report, titled “Governance & Corruption Diagnostic,” was described by Aslam as a charge sheet against the federal government’s record, yet it was buried until after the government made amendments to the Constitution, raising questions about the timing and motivations behind its release.

Speaking at a press conference, he accused the federal government of playing “cunning politics,” withholding the IMF’s harsh findings until after the passing of the 27th Amendment, which altered the judicial framework in Pakistan.

“The report explicitly mentions the distortion of the judicial system, something the government wanted to avoid in the public eye,” he said, adding that the timing of the report’s publication was deliberately orchestrated to avoid political fallout.

While the government is quick to trumpet any praise from international sources, Aslam noted, the IMF’s blistering critique had been released “in the dead of night.”

Adviser to KP CM accuses federal govt of ‘mismanaging’ tax revenue

He argued that such a significant report should have been addressed openly by the government, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and key ministers holding a public briefing to lay out the findings for the nation. Instead, the masses were left in the dark – highlighting the government’s lack of transparency, he added.

The IMF report, according to Aslam, highlights several key areas of concern. Among the most damning is the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a body entrusted with approving tax exemptions.

The IMF has raised serious questions about accountability within the SIFC, warning that decisions made by the body are effectively immune from scrutiny.

“The report points out that the SIFC enjoys immunity under Article 10G, leaving no room for accountability,” Aslam said. “This is a glaring issue, and it undermines public trust in the government.”

The IMF has also recommended that the SIFC publish an annual report, a move that would increase transparency. Moreover, the report calls for a curbing of executive powers, urging that critical decisions be made in Parliament rather than behind closed doors.

The IMF’s criticism does not stop at the SIFC. It also paints a grim picture of Pakistan’s judiciary, a major source of concern in the report.

Aslam pointed to the IMF’s assertion that the integrity of Pakistan’s judiciary is a central issue preventing much-needed investment into the country.

“For the first time, an international institution has openly addressed the judiciary’s failures,” he said. “The report bluntly states that the judiciary is failing to protect even those who invest in the country, which is a serious blow to investor confidence.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025