Pak to take action against top guns in former Shaukat Aziz govt

Islamabad, Apr 12 (UNI) Some top guns in Pakistani bureaucracy and known associates of the former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, are likely to face the music for being a part of the unprecedented "fudging business" which, according to the new finance minister, has depicted a completely false picture of the country's economic health.

Only an inquiry by a parliamentary body into the matter would fix the responsibility, but those likely to be asked to explain their role include Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Auditor General of Pakistan, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Special Secretary to the Finance Ministry and Director General Debt Office.

These officials are or have been holding the positions, dealing with economic figures, during the last eight years, The News reported.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told a recent press conference that Shaukat Aziz and other concerned would be asked by the parliamentary committee to clear their positions on the figure fudging case.

Mr Dar said that the government would not be able to achieve growth target of 7.2 per cent as assured by Aziz's government and it is expected to be six per cent at the end of current financial year on June 30 with inflation going up by ten per cent.

Interestingly, former caretaker prime minister Muhammadmian Soomro had also doubted the authenticity of the economic indicators data and therefore he had constituted a committee to verify these figures prepared by the Aziz government.

However, it was pointed out that of the committee members and former economic manager of Aziz, Akram Sheikh, Dr Ashfaq Khan and Asad Elahi have been directly involved in the formulation of the economic figures, which were put before them for reaffirmation.

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