Islamabad:  Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament summoned former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar to provide explanations regarding Diamer-Bhasha Dam Fund that was established during his time in top judicial position.

Nisar, then CJP, had taken initiative of collecting donations for Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams by launching fund in July 2018 that was later joined by then prime minister Imran Khan, making it a joint venture to overcome country’s water scarcity.

Fund had hit Rs 10 billion in collections by March 2019 while reportedly incurring Rs 13 billion as advertisement expense, according to PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal.

PAC session, presided over by PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan also summoned Supreme Court registrar to provide details of fund. At one point, committee chairman referred to Nisar as a “controversial” figure.

PAC member and PML-N MNA Barjees Tahir claimed that Rs 14 billion was spent on ads against an overall collection of Rs 9 billion as he called for an explanation on why funds were not used on construction of dams. “We are not threatening judges,” he said.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said there should be an inquiry conducted regarding funds.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 24 2022

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