The National Assembly has been informed that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has so far facilitated the medical treatment of four politicians and four bureaucrats abroad, approving over Rs 300 million.
According to reports placed before the National Assembly during the recent session, Gilani approved the money without any objection to benefit Senator Mushahidullah and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N); Khalil-ur-Rehman, former governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and former PPP minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi.
The details were submitted to the National Assembly on the request of MNA Raja Asad. The then KP governor, Khalil-ur-Rehman, was treated in Germany for a backbone problem, which caused a dent of 12000 euro and Rs 900,000 to the national kitty. Khalil is said to be a billionaire. The estimated cost of his bungalows, located in one of Islamabad's posh sectors-F-6, is over Rs 100 million.
The taxpayers' money spent on Javed Hashmi's brain ailment treatment abroad was 30,000 pounds sterling. Senator Mushahidullah Khan had lever problem. Gilani directed the finance ministry to immediately release 20000 pounds sterling for his treatment in the UK. The senator got this money approved when he used to lambast PPP government.
The fourth politician who knocked the door of Prime Minister Gilani, seeking money for his treatment abroad is his former minister for religious affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi after a life attempt on him outside his office in Islamabad. Kazmi desired to be treated in one of the best hospitals of the UK, for which the government paid over Rs 4600,000.
The list is not over. An amount of $16000 was approved for the treatment of former federal secretary Aslam Sanjrani as he was having some cardiac problem. The federal secretary was suffered from a stroke during his official visit to US. Muhammad Saleem Akhter, joint director, central directorate National Savings, Islamabad was sent to India for lever surgery. His treatment and travel abroad cost the national kitty spending $50000 and Rs 25000. An amount of $20,000 was approved for treatment of Liaquat Ali Khan, a member Income Tax, who underwent a heart surgery in US, where he breathed his last. An amount of 34000 pounds sterling was paid for heart treatment of Shuja Alam, director Foreign Office, in the UK.