Transparency International Pakistan Chairman Syed Adil Gilani has strongly reacted to the accusations of Secretary General, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP). Talking to Business Recorder from Karachi, he said TI Pakistan only signs MoU for Implementation of "Integrity Pact" on the request of procuring agencies, and not on TI Pakistan own initiative.
First MoU was signed with Pakistan Steel when General Qayyum Chairman PS invited TI Pakistan to assist PS in June 2004. Procurement manual was jointly prepared and PS has since been using the documents, which is fully compliant with PPRA Rules. PSO in 2009 invited TI Pakistan to assist them in procurement capacity building. Recently CEO Pakistan Steel requested TI Pakistan to help PS and become observer in all sales and purchase, and signed an agreement on August 23, 2010.
World Bank in 2008 had made TI Pakistan an observer in all procurements in the $175 million Sindh Water Sector Improvement Phase-I Project (WSIP-I). Managing Director PSO, Irfan Qureshi himself invited TI Pakistan to assist PSO and on his request TI Pakistan signed MoU in presence of Haji Nazim, present Chairman of PSO. However, PSO affairs were questioned by TI Pakistan like appointments not on merit, a Naval officer selected against armed forces rules of direct recruitment, award of contract for security at about Rs 45 million additional cost above the ongoing contract value, without tendering, and using ex armed forces guard's name as an excuse to change the security companies.
This illegality renders the contract as mis-procurement under PPRA rules, also questioned by PPRA, and may render recovery of fine 10 times the loss to PSO, ie Rs 450 million from the contractor under the terms of the Integrity Pact. These issues with PSO caused the press conference by a political party.
When TI Pakistan read Irfan Qureshi press statement on May 27, 2010 that: "The management remains committed to values of transparency and good corporate governance as is evident from the agreement with Transparency International Pakistan to help Pakistan State Oil ensure compliance with standard operating procedures." The TI Pakistan sent a notice to withdraw from the MoU with PSO, as the credibility of TIP could have been damaged for supporting PSO's illegal acts.
Aisha Sadaf adds: Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) has alleged that Transparency International of Pakistan Chairman Syed Adil Gilani is blackmailing and harassing important government and non-government organisations and warned that the party would stage a sit-in before Parliament if the government fails to take action.
Secretary General Abdur Rauf Khan Sasoli during a press conference held here on Wednesday appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to protect officials of government, semi government and federal as well provincial departments from blackmailing by chief of TIP.
"Gilani blackmails important people and forces them to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)," Sasoli said alleging that Gilani threatens an inquiry by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to whoever refuses to sign the MoU. Sasoli further alleged that Gilani was also pressurising management's of PIA, PSO and other organisations to sign MoU with TI Pakistan. Sasoli claimed that some government institutions were supporting the TI Pakistan chief.
"If anyone is corrupt, NAB and FIA are responsible to initiate inquiry, Sasoli added. "The role of NGOs is to serve the people and not sign MOUs," he said, adding that NAB had been investigating him on charges of corruption when he was working at the Karachi Port Trust on a key post.
"An inquiry was also initiated against Gilani," Sasoli said, adding that the government institutions are silent over the alleged illegal activities. Sasoli urged removal of the TI Pakistan chief who had become a controversial figure and also urged the government to appoint a 'neutral' chief.
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