Premier discusses draft ToRs for Commission of Inquiry with aides

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a high-level meeting here at his office regarding the Commission of Inquiry, wherein its draft terms of reference (ToRs) were discussed.

Law Minister Farogh Naseem, Special Assistant to PM on Accountability Shahzad Akbar and Auditor General of Pakistan Javaid Jehangir were present during the meeting.

It was decided that the government will constitute the Commission of Inquiry under Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 2017, comprising senior officers from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Auditor General’s Office, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and others, according to a statement issued from PM’s office.

The commission will investigate how the debt of the country from 2008 to 2018 increased by Rs 24,000 billion, whereas no mega projects were carried out in the country during this period.

It will also look into all ministries and divisions, including ministers concerned who have spent public money and where any misappropriation found. It will work for return of this money to the exchequer, the statement read.

The commission will also investigate any misuse of public exchequer for personal use and gains, such as foreign travels, foreign medical treatment expenses, construction of roads and infrastructure for private houses declared as camp offices of high officials.

The inquiry commission, in addition to its members, will be empowered to induct forensic auditors and experts of international repute for its assistance.

An announcement pertaining to final ToRs for the commission, including the name of its head, will be made during this week.

A day earlier, the prime minister promised to constitute a “high-powered commission” to probe corruption of last 10 years in Pakistan.

Announcing the formation of a high-level commission to probe corruption, the prime minister said it would investigate acquisition of foreign loans over the past 10 years.

He said the foreign debt of the country jumped to Rs30,000 billion from Rs6,000 billion in the last 10 years.

“The inquiry commission will have representatives from the IB, FIA, FBR, SECP and ISI,” PM Imran said. “We will find out through the inquiry commission how foreign debts of the country mounted to Rs24,000 billion.”