ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) convened a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, chaired by MNA Junaid Akbar Khan, to address the contentious removal of electricity meters from the residence of PAC member Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel. The incident, carried out by officials of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), had previously disrupted committee proceedings in protest.
During the session, the Power Secretary confirmed that FESCO had formally apologised to both the committee and Mr Mastikhel. “The necessary briefing has been given; the decision now rests with the committee,” he stated before exiting the meeting.
Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan appreciated Mastikhel’s decision to forgive but emphasized that the incident was a serious breach. “PAC will never compromise on the dignity of its members,” he said, adding that the meeting was a symbolic continuation of the earlier protest. He noted that had forgiveness not been extended, stringent action would have followed.
The committee also examined audit objections related to the Ministry of Railways. Railway Secretary Mazhar Zeeshan reported that despite Rs64 billion in allocations, outstanding liabilities stood at Rs13–14 billion, affecting pension disbursements for two years. He also updated PAC on the delayed Main Line-1 (ML-1) upgrade, asserting that the revised design would allow train speeds up to 160 km/h.
PAC further raised alarm over procurement violations totaling Rs3.39 billion related to locomotive repairs, the misappropriation of Rs506.6 million in diesel procurement, and unauthorised commercial use of leased land by Al-Shifa Eye Hospital in Sukkur. Formal inquiries were ordered, with a 10-day deadline for the diesel case report.
Reaffirming its stance on transparency, the PAC warned that breaches of public trust would be met with strict scrutiny — regardless of personal forgiveness.
Story by Jamal Shahid
