Prime Minister orders probe into charges of corruption, bad governance

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has ordered a probe into the alleged corruption charges, amounting to billions of rupees and bad governance, in Federal Ministries and Divisions, levelled by an active parliamentarian, Marvi Memon.
These Ministries/Divisions are as follows: (i) Cabinet Division; (ii) Ministry of Commerce ; (iii) Ministry of Defence; (iv) Economic Affairs Division; (v) Ministry of Education; (vi) Establishment Division; (vii) Ministry of Finance; (viii) Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Minfa); (ix) Ministry of Health; (x) Ministry of Communications; (xi) Ministry of Housing and Works; (xi) Ministry of Industries and Production; (xii) Ministry of Petroleum and; (xiii) Ministry of Railways, etc.
Marvi had handed over a 'white paper' to the Prime Minister in December 2010 alleging corruption in different Ministries. Sources said that Prime Minister Secretariat had given one week to the concerned Ministries to submit replies to the corruption allegations and bad governance, but most of the Ministries failed to meet the deadline.
The 'white paper' has also been dispatched to National Assembly Speaker, Chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhy who is already hearing a number of mega corruption cases of different Ministries, especially Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI&P).
"Executive and Parliament must fulfil its accountability responsibility or else judiciary will be burdened unnecessarily to save Pakistan from financial collapse," said Ms Memon. She attached 135 relevant clippings from different newspapers with the 'white paper', including excerpts from Auditor General's report. At least in two mega financial scams, which are being heard by the Supreme Court--Hajj scam and National Insurance Company Limited (NICL)--the involvement of an important political bigwig's son is being mentioned, in private meetings.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also issued arrest warrants for Moonis Elahi, son of former Punjab chief minister, Pervaiz Elahi, who, according to media reports, is in the United Kingdom. Another key accused of NICL scam, Mohin Habib Warraich, is also in the UK. FIA has issued their red warrants.
Last week, the name of the bigwig's son was heard in the Supreme Court during hearing of Hajj scam. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), according to the 'white paper 'is among those entities whose top officials, except Chairman, are allegedly involved in corruption activities. A number of Business Recorder's stories have also been quoted in the 'white paper'.
The Ministry of Industries is also facing corruption charges. Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Utility Stores Corporation (USC), and National Fertiliser Corporation (NFC) are facing serious corruption charges. The USC, according to an insider of the MoI&P, has been hijacked by a group of 'three', including a reinstated official. The two others are outsiders, dealing with air ticketing.
According to National Corruption Survey 2010, overall corruption in 2010 increased from Rs 195 billion in 2009 to Rs 223 billion, and 70 percent Pakistanis say that the present government is more corrupt than the previous government. The Police and Water and Power Ministry maintained their ranking as the two top most corrupt entities. Prime Minister's Inspection Commission has also unearthed massive financial and management irregularities in top ten mega projects, included PSDP, and suggested remedies to bring positive change in these projects.