Monday, January 18, 2021
By
Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai

PM Imran Khan constitutes 3-member committee to probe Broadsheet scandal

By
Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai
|
A file photo of a federal cabinet meeting. — File photo

  • Three-membered committee formed to probe Broadsheet scandal
  • Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry, and Shibli Faraz included in committee
  • PM Imran Khan says PDM allowed to protest but law will come into effect if they break it


ISLAMABAD: With Prime Minister Imran Khan in chair, the federal cabinet has constituted a three-member committee to probe the Broadsheet LLC scandal. 

The committee will be led by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz and comprise Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, and Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari.

Related: Broadsheet verdict: NAB paid $1.5m to a fake firm

The committee has been given the task to review Pakistan's agreement with Broadsheet LCC for the period 2002-2018, sources informed Geo News. "An investigation will be launched to find out who took advantage of the deal," the sources said as they revealed the cabinet's decisions.

Meanwhile, speaking about the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the prime minister said that the "Opposition's alliance would be allowed to hold their protest."

He, however, warned the PDM and said that the law would come into action if the 11-party alliance attempts to move against it.

Read more: Broadsheet scandal is a slap on the face of PTI govt, says Maryam Nawaz

Regarding the matter of religious parties holding sit-ins and protests, the cabinet decided to consult the ulema. "This is a sensitive issue. We will take the ulema into confidence over this matter," the prime minister added.

Pakistan pays Rs4.59 bn to British firm for lost case

Pakistan made a payment of $28.706 million (Rs4.59 billion) to the British firm Broadsheet LLC after losing the long-running litigation at the London High Court.

The amount was transferred from the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) on behalf of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to the assets recovery firm — 21 years after it was hired to trace alleged foreign assets of dozens of Pakistanis which it failed to find any.

Read more: Public Accounts Committee orders full probe into Broadsheet scandal

The London High Court’s Financial Division had issued on December 17 a Final Third Party Order for payment to NAB’s former client Broadsheet by December 30 — drawing curtains on a case that has cost Pakistani taxpayers billions of rupees.