Archive for Corruption

Shaheen Sehbai Maneuvers to Get Green Card

September 7, 2009 at 9:14 am · Filed under Corruption, Pakistan ·Tagged ,

shaheen sehbai[1]Mr Shaheen Shebai  (former correspondent of Daily Dawn; former editor of The News; ex Director News of ARY ONE TV Channel; former director of GEO News Network; and presently one of the many editors of the News), escaped from Pakistan to save himself from the so-called wrath of the establishment headed by General Musharraf, after the controversy surrounding his story about the murder of Daniel Pearl. It was apparently simply to obtain the Green Card for himself, and his family in the United States. 

Mr Shehbai then started to run a web based news service, i.e., South Asia Tribune, funded through dubious sources, but he suddenly reappeared and closed his website. During his self- imposed exile in the USA, he used to raise hue and cry against the military establishment that he and his family member’s life was in danger, but the so-called danger suddenly vanished after the whole family getting the Green Cards. He then returned to Pakistan and that too under the same Musharraf regime, and joined ARY TV channel; then GEO; and then the News, where he is presently working. 

Upon Zardari coming to power, he suddenly became active, and started writing almost a daily column in order to be noticed by Zardari. He was hoping to be appointed High Commissioner to Canada as he was competing with Haqqani. When this could not materialize, and he realized that Zardari does not read newspapers, he has gradually gone into his Green Card cocoon.

Comments (2)

Thai Police Gives an Indian Massage for Fake Shop-lifting

August 10, 2009 at 11:09 am · Filed under Corruption ·Tagged , ,

An Indian was detained in Bangkok for stealing a box of cigarettes in a duty-free shop in Bangkok International Airport. 

He had paid for chocolates and a carton of cigarettes. The cashier put a packet of cigarettes extra into his bag and he thought it was a free
pack. He was arrested for shop-lifting and the Thai Police extortion price was 30,000 Bhat for his release.   He spent two nights in jail and paid 500 Baht for an air-cond cell, 200-300 baht for each visitor, and 11,000 baht for his final release.

The Police shared the money in front of his eyes.

On top of that, he was charged in court and fined 2,000 baht by the magistrate and handcuffed and escorted to his plane.. His passport was stamped “Thief”.

While there, his relatives requested help from the Indian Embassy and was told that they are helpless, many Asians are victimised similarly daily and letters and phone-calls to the Thai Authorities are
ignored.   He shared a cell with a Singaporean the 1st night who paid
60,000 baht  for his release. The  2nd night was an Malaysian national who paid 70,000 baht. 

Mind you this was not in a shanty shop in downtown Bangkok
but in a duty free shop in Bangkok Int’l Airport.
Clip_19

Leave a Comment

Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid

August 5, 2009 at 7:10 am · Filed under Corruption ·Tagged , ,

untitledAir Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid was a well recognized face inside Pakistan’s elite circles. After all he managed to stay at the same post in the Pakistan Air Force for nearly two decades, defying every air force rule and regulation. He had turned Air Weapon’s Complex, under his leadership, into his personal enterprise.

Clip_25Other than girls and alcohol, he was famous for getting millions of dollars of funds from the government to build top secret equipment and weapons and then purchase a Chinese version for peanuts and inaugurate it as being developed at AWC after years of hard work and at the cost of millions of dollars.

As all of the tenders, bids and projects were done in closed doors and without transparency, thus there was no one to raise any objection.

It was during his watch that AWC lost the famous “bomb”. It was later found in FATA, after it had accidentally exploded during transport. He had two loyal subordinates working at AWC: Brig. Nasim Akhtar Khan and a civilian engineer Irfan Afzal Mirza.

When Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir took over the command, he started a thorough investigation of Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid, his trusted team and AWC. According to the report of Military Intelligence, Raja Shahid Hamid had amassed at least US$ 20 million in foreign bank accounts and had shares in at least one hotel in Dubai.

At the end of the investigation, Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid was given the choice of quietly resigning or… He chose to resign. Brig. Nasim Akhtar Khan was sent back to his unit in the Pakistan Army while Irfan Afzal Mirza was also kicked out. This happened in 2001.

Although Shahid Hamid was out, but he still had contacts, and somehow managed to meet Shaukat Aziz. He somehow convinced Shaukat Aziz that using renewable energy, Pakistan would be able to meet its upcoming energy shortages and under his leadership, it can be achieved in less than five years. As a result in 2003 Alternative Energy Development Board was established with Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid as its Chairman, Brig. Nasim Akhtar Khan as its Secretary and Irfan Afzal Mirza as its Director General. It is also worthwhile to note here that Irfan Afzal was given an MP-II grade at the tender age of 30/31, breaking all the rules of Government of Pakistan. Irfan Mirza was not actually 30/31. He had changed his birth certificate to reduce his age by 4 to 5 years. However, in the official documents he was shown 31 at the time of employment.

Shahid Hamid got a pay package of MP-I, nearly 5 lakh rupees per month and Irfan Mirza got nearly 2.5 lakh rupees package per month. A sweet deal to begin with.

Comments (11)

Malik Riaz Hussain of Bahria Town Strikes Again

August 3, 2009 at 11:54 am · Filed under Army's Involvement, Corruption, Pakistan ·Tagged , ,

Luxury Islamabad StyleIf the saga of Islamabad’s Centaurus ‘development’ didn’t make you throw up, here is something that might…

Arguably one of the richest men in Pakistan and a front man for the uniformed mafia, Malik Riaz Hussain, and his Bahria Town Co. are bringing a golf resort to its capital.

Isn’t this just what the city needs?  Given that tourists will be flooding in with their golf clubs we need to build them about 400 luxury rooms and rake in the dollars. 

This is the capital of a country that has its minions rushing around with begging bowls, its ‘friends’ turning their back to it, IMF imposing back-breaking conditions, a compromised judiciary, a lawyers movement gone sour, its top two political parties filled with opportunists, the other parties full of fantasists concerned more about the next promised world rather than setting things right here. 

A city that has power outages throughout the day, its roads mired by security blockades, manned by AK-47 armed personnel themselves worried when a crazy terrorist may blow himself in their faces. 

Islamabad lacks regular water supply – it steals water from Pindi’s reservoir.   Its gutter system has failed with much of its sewage now flowing in rainwater drains. 

Though better than other cities, its schools have incompetent teachers, its universities full of academics who can’t give a half-decent lecture, let alone rationally discuss issues of social revival and sustainability.

The cheapest set of golf clubs for a single player costs as much as the yearly salary of an average worker. 

Why bother about these toiling millions; let’s play golf.

Leave a Comment

Hye Plot, Hye Plot: Ansar Abbasi Sells His Soul for a Plot

July 28, 2009 at 6:43 am · Filed under Corruption ·Tagged

In his interview while referring to Quarnic verses, Ansar Abbasi of the News Islamabad time and again lebelled the people ignorant urging them to at least learn what Quran says. But, this self-styled scholar of the Holy Book had to apologize later on for misquoting Quran in one of his columns published in Urdu daily Jang.

Irrefutable evidences have surfaced about Editor Investigation of The News, Ansar Abbasi’s lust for land grabbing. And unlike any other honourable person, Ansar Abbasi used his wife to plead the case for a government plot in Islamabad worth millions of rupees by falsifying and concealing information. 

These official documents emerged after Ansar Abbasi, tried to hoodwink the public by returning a 250 square yard plot of the Punjab government. 

According to the details gleaned from official documents, the self proclaimed moralist of Pakistani journalism Ansar Ahmed Abbasi, son of Mohammad Sajawal, sought from Musharraf regime a one Kanal (500 square yards) plot worth millions of rupees at throwaway price in Islamabad’s sector G-14 in 2004. 

Ansar Abbasi was then the Bureau Chief of The News in Islamabad. He was among the few journalists who rushed to apply for the one kanal plot in sector G- 14 and subsequently deposited Rs125,000 with the Ministry of Information. 

The government had established an eligibility criterion that only those journalists were eligible against three per cent quota for journalists who did not own any plot or house in the federal capital, Islamabad. It was to meant to provide roof to the journalists in dire need of shelter. 

He who is greedy is always in want 

Ansar Abbasi did not care for this important clause and submitted an affidavit on oath knowingly, that he was giving a false oath on the Holy Book, Quran, not withstanding his self claimed righteousness and championship (read demagoguery) of Islamic values. Mr Abbasi concealed the information that he lived in a house in the most posh sector of Islamabad in House No 217, Street 100, Sector I 8/4 Islamabad. 

This house is owned by Ansar Abbasi himself where he lives with his brother Ejaz Abbasi.Sources close to Ansar Abbasi say that Ejaz Abbasi acts as a front man for the acts of omission and commission of his journalist brother. The sources say Ansar Abbasi and Ejaz Abbasi have joint stakes in many a businesses including hotels and petrol pumps. 

In the personal affidavit submitted by Ansar Abbasi to the Ministry of Information, he claimed that he did not have any house in his name at all. In the forms submitted to the Ministry of Information, Abbasi cleverly mentioned in the column where it was required to be mentioned whether he owned a house in Islamabad or not, that he had a shared property in I-8/4. 

He did not mention that he actually owns a house. Had he admitted the ownership of his house, then he might have been deprived of his right to even apply for the plot. But he hid the truth from the authorities in the application form. 

“Corruption of the best becomes the worst” 

Ansar Abbasi’s craving for a plot on throwaway price shocked the officials at the Ministry of Information when he submitted an affidavit of his wife, Zeba Abbasi. He was the only journalist in Pakistan whose wife submitted the affidavit, literally kneeling down to beg for a plot for her husband in sector G-14. No other journalist ever submitted such affidavit of their better half. 

In her affidavit, she wrote

“I, Zeba Ansar Abbasi, wife of Ansar Ahmed Abbasi NIC 6110-9436395-8 has been nominated by Ansar Abbasi, in respect of the plot to be allotted to him. In this regard, I undertake to bear all liabilities in respect of plot to be allotted to him, in event of his death without prejudice to the rights of the legal heir under the relevant laws”. 

The Information ministry officials were dumbfounded shocked as according to them they did not expect Ansar Abbasi to become so crazy for a piece of land that he could even submit a false oath or an affidavit of his wife. The officials were taken aback to know that Mr Abbasi’s wife wanted the plot even in the event of her husband’s death and pay the installments after her husband’s death. 

Snowball effect

But, Ansar Abbasi felt that despite his own affidavit and that of his wife Zeba Abbasi’s, he still needed to do more to convince the Musharraf regime to allot him one Kanal Plot in Sector G-14 of Islamabad. Therefore, he prepared another affidavit to get this plot. 

This time, Abbasi narrated how he was inducted in the profession of journalism through some tabloid newspaper which was closed down soon after he joined it. Then he joined Pakistan Times, but interestingly, this too was closed down once Mr Abbasi became its part. 

Now, Abbasi wrote that he did not have any experience certificates of these two newspaper papers which were the requirement to show that his experience in the journalism was more than 15 years to qualify for the plot. Thus, he could not produce those certificates of his relevant experiences. 

In a laughable move, Abbasi however attached the “press cards” of Pakistan Times and Democrat to lay claim over the plot in G-14. To convince (read mislead) the government about his eligibility in his lust for the plot, Abbasi crossed the limits of absurdity as far as references are concerned. In a more laughable manner, Mr abbasi wrote the name of a photographer, Ishaq Chaudhry, to establish his credentials.  

Had the editors of the closed down publications been alive, they might have confirmed or denied if they knew anyone by the name of Ansar Abbasi and if the closure of the publications was due to non-professional extremist instincts of Abbasi. 

Abbasi was so desperate to get the government plot that he had even offered to produce some evidences in the shape of senior journalist of Dawn Mohammad Ilyas who according to Abbasi was the chief reporter of The Pakistan Times when he joined the newspapers. Sadly, after a few days of submission of third affidavit by Abbasi, Mr Ilyas also died. 

Ironically, by a hand of fate or sleight of shrewdness, all the journalists Mr Abbasi mentioned as references had been died, except for photographer Ishaq Chaudhry. 

A man’s heart deviseth his way, but … 

The committee constituted by the government to scrutinize eligibility though believed the words of Abbasi but with a pinch of salt and recommended him for a category-II plot in G-14. A letter was sent to Mr Abbasi telling him that he was not eligible for the Category-I plot for which he had applied. 

Upon this, Abbasi wrote back to Ministry of Information that he was ready to accept anything thrown at him, even if the category in which he was being allotted a plot was being down graded.

Comments (4)

The Present Rulers Will Leave After Finishing the Last Penny

June 30, 2009 at 7:10 am · Filed under Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto, Corruption ·Tagged , , ,

Clip_3At least 11 big and small, known and unknown, lobbying companies have been hired by Pakistan and state-owned Pakistani organisations in the US, paying them hundreds of thousands of dollars every month, some of them having mysterious names and almost dubious credentials.

Although lobbying is a legal profession in Washington, the way it is conducted has earned it the nickname of “officially certified corruption” and what the Pakistan government, Pakistan Embassy and Pakistani organisations are doing may come close to this unofficial definition, analysts say.

The information about these lobbying firms is public record and is available on official websites of US government agencies and organisations. But somehow Pakistani clients of these lobbying firms have tried to camouflage their widely spread activities under different names and different categories so that at one time not more than two or three companies could be officially acknowledged as government lobbyists.

All lobbyists are registered in the US as “foreign agents” under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and have to disclose their activities and operations under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. All this data is then made available to the public through information posted on their official websites.

Under FARA data seven Pakistani entities are listed as clients of at least 11 lobbying companies. One such firm was de-listed in March and its client was the PPP.

Likewise lobbyists’ info, an official organisation that keeps all the data on lobbyists for the last 40 years and is the best recognised source of latest information on lobbying and lobbyists, lists seven Pakistani entities, which have hired the 11 lobbying firms in the US. These in their order of listing include:

- Council on Pakistan Relations (CPR): This is said to be based in Michigan but no other information is available except an expensive Washington DC address, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, one block away from the White House and next to the famous Willard Hotel. There is a website for this organisation, www.pakistanrelations.org, but it does not name any one or any organisation, which can be identified. The details of the website are also hidden. CPR has hired one of the most expensive firms in Washington, Cassidy and Associates which has former Assistant Secretary Robin Raphel as one of the senior vice presidents. General Musharraf had also hired this company in October 2007 at $1.2 million per year to lobby for him just before the imposition of the emergency in Nov 07.

- Pakistan American Business Association: This is described as a non-profit organisation and has hired a big firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, ranked by The National Law Journal in 2006 as one of the 100 largest law firms in the country. Who are these Pak-American businessmen and where are they getting the huge dollars to pay this firm and for what results is not yet known.

- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has hired Benazir Bhutto’s personal lobbyist, Mark Siegel’s firm Locke Lord Strategies on a one-time payment of $150,000 to lobby for PIA’s landing rights in the US.

- Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) until recently had three lobbyists, BKSH, a subsidiary of Burson Marsteller, Mark Siegel’s firm LLS and a firm owned by one T Dean Reed. Lakhs of dollars were paid by PPP before the elections 2008 when Benazir Bhutto was trying to win over the US leaders to replace General Musharraf. On March 9, 2009 PPP terminated the contract of BKSH.

- Embassy of Pakistan in Washington: The latest information on lobbyists.info shows that the Pakistan Embassy has currently retained three main lobbying firms: Moses Boyd, Mark Siegel’s LLS and Ogilvy Public Relations (one of the names in this firm’s list of associates is Irfan Kamal. Who is he and what role he plays, whether any, is not known).

- Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Government of Pakistan: Under this name, a mysterious firm named ‘Team Eagle’ has been hired as one of the two lobbying companies, the other bang White & Case LLP in which one Pakistani name, Imran R Mir, is mentioned as an associate.

- Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: Under this name only one name of a Pakistan-based company Asiatic Advertising is registered. No details of transactions are available for this firm.

These seven Pakistani organisations have thus hired 11 firms, separately and mysteriously in some cases, but what output and results are these companies providing is unknown and not clear. It would be a suitable case for parliamentary oversight bodies like the Public Accounts Committee to look into the details of these firms and how much they were paid for what results.

The data provided by US government under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) until June 2008 is as follows. This lists some of the firms hired and paid by the Musharraf regime and some by the PPP government. It is amusing to note that the purpose of payment in some cases is just ridiculous like training Pakistani officials in the Embassy on how to deal with US media. The following is the data as listed on FARA web site:

- BKSH & Associates #5402, 1110 Vermont Avenue, NW Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20005

Pakistan People’s Party (t) Nature of Services: Public Relations.

The registrant contacted congressional staffers, members of the Congress, and the US government officials to check on status of Resolution 445 and to assist the foreign principal in its effort to promote democracy in Pakistan and in providing its views on the current political, economic and humanitarian situation on the ground in Pakistan. The registrant also contacted congressional staffers to discuss upcoming visit of representatives of the foreign principal to the United States. $31,299.65 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2008.

- Burson-Marsteller #2469 1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20005-3544

Pakistan People’s Party (t) 60 Nature of Services: Media Relations.

The registrant developed media monitoring reports, spoke with media representatives, secured and attended meetings for party representatives, and secured and staffed interviews for party representatives on behalf of the foreign principal. $49,837.13 for the six-month period ending April 30, 2008.

- Cassidy & Associates, Inc #5643 700 13th Street, N.W. Suite 400 Washington, DC 20005

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (t) 60 Nature of Services: Lobbying.

The registrant contacted congressional staffers and the US government officials to promote a better understanding of the foreign principal’s political, social and economic developments. $100,000.00 for the six-month period ending March 31, 2008. Printed as of: February 11, 2009 Page 160 of 229 Pakistan.

- Dewey & LeBoeuf, LLP #5835 1101 New York Avenue, NW Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005-4213

Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan, Embassy 60 Nature of Services: Legal and Other Services/Lobbying.

The registrant provided services to the foreign principal including developing action plans that advance Pakistan’s commercial and trade objectives vis-‡-vis the US government and the private sector. $294,042.83 for the six-month period ending April 30, 2008.

- JWT Asiatic, a division of WPP Marketing Communications (Pvt.) Ltd #5722 ABN Amro Bank Building 16 Abdullah Haroon Road Karachi

Government of Pakistan 60 Nature of Services: Advertising. Activities: None Reported Finances: None Reported.

- Locke Lord Strategies, LP #5856 401 9th Street, NW Suite 400 South Washington, DC 20004

PPP; Asif Ali Zardari, Co-Chairperson of the PPP 60.

Nature of Services: Lobbying.

The registrant agreed to promote the democratic transition of Pakistan and to encourage the international investigation of the assassination of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Finances: None Reported

- Locke Lord Strategies, LP #5856 401 9th Street, NW Suite 400 South Washington, DC 20004

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 60. Nature of Services: Lobbying.

The registrant will conduct strategic and governmental affairs communications on behalf of the foreign principal. Finances: None Reported

Printed as of: February 11, 2009 Page 161 of 229 Pakistan.

- Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide #5807 1111 19th Street, NW 10th Floor Washington, DC 20036

Embassy of Pakistan (t) 60 Nature of Services: Media Relations.

On behalf of the foreign principal, the registrant provided media training to embassy staff, drafted informational materials for distribution to journalists and other media outlets, facilitated the embassy’s interactions with journalists and other media outlets, and provided strategic guidance with respect to the United States media. $256,809.00 for the six-month period ending May 31, 2008.

- Reed, T Dean #5044 37277 Branchriver Road Purcellville, VA 20132-1922

PPP (t) 60 Nature of Services: Public Relations.

The registrant provided public relations advice and consultation to the foreign principal and the editing of a newsletter. $10,500.00 for the six-month period ending March 31, 2008.

- Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. #5401 101 Constitution Avenue, NW Suite 600 West Washington, DC 20001

Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Embassy (t) 60

Nature of Services: Legal and Other Services/Lobbying.

The registrant monitored, advised and evaluated legislative issues, as well as arranged meetings and accompanied Pakistani government officials to meetings with members of the Congress, and congressional staffers to discuss general US-Pakistan issues. Representatives of the registrant also traveled to Pakistan to meet with Pakistani government officials. $330,000.00 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2008.

Leave a Comment

Mohammad Malick, Editor News Islamabad, is Corrupt

June 24, 2009 at 7:27 am · Filed under Corruption, Pakistan ·Tagged

ATT00386We always see the Journalists giving lectures on morality, ethics and pretending to be advocates of rule of law. These journalists will always highlight the wrongdoings of anyone else in the society, but when it comes to their own community, they unite and act as mafia. 

One typical example is the criminal silence across the board by all Pakistani Journalists on Nazir Naji’s use of abusive language against another junior journlaist. Isn’t it shameful for those preists cum journalists who could not gather moral courage to utter a single word to condemn this disgusting behaviour of a disgusting fellow journalist? 

Many of these journalists have received favours from other corrupts and criminals of society, acting as partners in their crimes. Not all journalists are corrupt but at least one crime has been committed by all the journalists, and that is the Silence to cover crimes of their fellows. 

Mohammad Malick, currently the editor of the News in Islamabad can be easily called the Al Capone of Pakistani journalism. 

Details of his plot scams and benefits from different Governments are as follows: 

1- Advertising Agency and Production House: (Media Magic and Pink Productions)
2- ESP Initiatives (his recreational company that was given 25 acres land in Islamabad)
3- Marketing Head of PTV with Rs 0.5 million per month salary under Musharraf Regime
4- Was allotted a Category 1 plot of 500 square yards in Islamabad
5- Malick Zong 

Details:

1- Advertising Agency and Production House:

a- According to official website of Board of Investment (BOI), Media Magic is registered in the name of “Malik Muhammad Malick”. Muhammad Malick used to run his advertising business while being a journalist. He was among defaulters of PTV but no one could dare to ask him any question because of his journalistic influence. According to official documents presented by the PTV before a subcommittee of Senate Standing Committee on Information Broadcasting, Media Magic defaulted PTV with an amount of Rs 15.311 million 343 + 5.615 + 4.353 =

b- The other company Pink Production is basically registered in the name of Anila Malick, wife of Muhammad Malick. However, the business of this company was also controlled by Muhammad Malick according to almost everyone in PTV. According to documents, Pink Production also defaults PTV with an amount of Rs 15.381 million ( 10.733 + 4.648 = 15.381 ).

2- ESP Initiatives (his recreational company that was given 25 acres land in Islamabad)

Musharraf’s misrule of the last 9 years also saw a major development project on the land around the Rawal Dam, Islamabad as a Public Recreational Park. 

The land allocated for the project was substantial and was located in an area with astronomical property prices. In off the record conversations, honest and upstanding CDA officials revealed that the whole project was a huge scam meant to grab this piece of real estate for the land mafia. Without the phony Public Park project, it would have been impossible for the land mafia of Islamabad to get their hands on this real estate because the original Islamabad Master Plan explicitly forbade its use for residential developments. According to reliable sources within the CDA, the allotments of portions of this land were made only to line the pockets of several high level power brokers within the Musharraf regime.

 The unnamed CDA sources further reveal that the main beneficiary of this massive fraud was Muhammad Malick who got 25 acres of this land. In comparison, the remaining 9 parties got 3 to 9 acres in the same area. The allotment process of the land was completely fraudulent and without due process. Muhammad Malick dealt with different officials within the CDA using his influence. He used multiple channels of authority to get the 25 acres allotted to him by hook or by crook. Malick played his cards beautifully and one of his most ingenious maneuvers was to show himself as the sole proprietor/ owner of a new company “Esp Initiatives”. This shell company had no documented experience in recreational real estate development while the regulations in the allotment process called for a company with extensive international experience in the field. 

The CDA sources disclosed that the estimated earning potential of this piece of real estate was around Rs.62.5 million (Rs.6.25 Crore) while it was allotted to Muhammad Malick for the paltry sum of Rs.0.3 million (Rs.3 Lakhs) per annum. According to the CDA sources, this allotment to Muhammad Malick was the largest single land allotment to an individual in Pakistani history looking at land prices. 

There is a lease agreement of this land between Muhammad Malick and CDA. 

3- Marketing Head of PTV with Rs 0.5 million per month salary under Musharraf Regime

Malick joined PTV as its marketing head in 2007. His monthly package there was about Rs 500,000. He was at the same time running his own business of advertising agencies and become a defaulter of PTV in this regard as mentioned above. 

4- Was alloted a Category 1 plot of 500 square yards in Islamabad

During all this process, yet another wheeling and dealing was going on between CDA and FGEHF which was facilitated by non other than Muhammad Malick. This was meant to create some plots in luxurious sector I-8 of Islamabad where in fact no plots were available. Plots in these luxurious sectors, where price of a Category-1 plot measuring 500 square yards now approaches to Rs 30 to Rs 40 million, are created by finishing green belts and playgrounds. However, in this classic case some six plots were created by shifting six vacant plots of CDA official’s quota to FGEHF. Present CDA officers did so because the experience of recent years has shown that by the time CDA officials qualify for the plots after acquiring relevant experience they are transferred from CDA. According to this deal, which was finalized with mediation of Muhammad Malick, CDA officials and all the six members were given the offer of allotment of one plot each in far-flung sector G-14 so in return they were to create and give six plots to FGEHF. This story is available on The News Website with the heading “Complicated issue of plot allotments in Islamabad!”. 

One of these plots in I-8 was also allotted to Muhammad Malick in return of his services during the deal. As everyone in CDA and all concerned government departments knew about this allotment to Muhammad Malick, which was made in complete violation of rules, DG-FGEHF had also verified this allotment on record. However, DG-FGEHF was left with no option but to shift this I-8 plot of Muhammad Malick in G-14 , as those journalists who were allotted plots in G-14 started compelling the whole government machinery to transfer their plots in I-8 as well.

Allottment of plot to Malick was completely illegal. He never applied for the plot. His application number on his allotment letter is given as “Zero”. While talking to the @admin of PKPolitics, he claimed that he had applied in 2004, but in fact he hadn’t applied and documents didn’t show his name even in the waiting seniority list which was prepared in 2005 after allotment of plots to 168 journalists under a devised and publicized policy. His application was later kept in the record in connivance of information ministry officials. His allotment was made secretly. He didn’t deserve a category-1 plot. No allotments could be made in sector I-8. Even in sector G-14 his allotment was illegal by all means made in complete violation of rules and regulations and secretly. It was made purely on the basis of his influence as being a journalist . 

 5- Malick Zong

Beside all this CDA officials say that after launching of a cellular company Zong last year, it was Muhammad Malick, who controlled all affairs of this company which were connected with CDA. He managed to get NOCs for the Zong towers erected in capital territory. Malik is known circles of CDA as Malick Zong.

Comments (1)

Fighting the Corrupt Journalists in Pakistan

June 24, 2009 at 6:46 am · Filed under Corruption, Pakistan ·Tagged , , , ,

Clip_4Clip_5Not surprisingly life in the Land of the Pure is a lot more muddled! 

!cid_001d01c87f7f$e2952b20$0132a8c0@your08c8845488Many of the top journalists have been bought out by the State, using the office of the Press Information Department which is an arm of the Ministry of “Information”. 

Many of their lesser known colleagues get away with low level blackmailing.  

We have highlighted recently the land deals for Nazir Naji, Rauf Klasra and Mohammad Malick and the dangerous ideological affiliations (pro-Taliban) of superstars like Kamran Khan, Hamid Mir and Ansar Abbasi who have since the Ch Iftikhar upheaval become the darlings of the couch-potato public through their TV appearances.  

And there is the lovely Amir Liaquat who wows the ladies with his Alim Online, while everyone knows about him hoodwinking the public about his fake degrees.  The ignorance spread by such religious programs anchored by crooks becomes difficult to counter by the saner elements in society. 

What common between these guys? 

They all belong to the Jang group which is led by Mir Shakeel ur Rahman and Bros. 

The Jang group is faithfully supported by the likes of Shaheen Sehbai and Imran Aslam and other editors who pretty much keep mum while the Jang group rolls in the millions from advertising revenue.

It is therefore important that those interested in fair reporting in Pakistan carefully consider the following survey report.  Note the names of Geo and Jang: 

The National Corruption Perception Survey 2009 (NCPS 2009) indicates that the overall Corruption in 2002 has increased from Rs 45 Billion to Rs 195 Billion in 2009.

To the question “In your opinion has media played a positive role in combating corruption, 77% said yes.

Respondents ranking of four most viewed TV Channel are Geo, ARY, Express and Aaj.

Four News paper in readership ranking are Jang, Nawae Waqat, Dawn and Mashriq.

Clip_26

WE WISH TO SET A CHALLENGE FOR JOURNALISTS AND MANAGEMENT OF ARY, EXPRESS AND AAJ AS WELL AS NAWAE WAKT, DAWN AND MASHRIQ TO DO INVESTIGATIVE STORIES ABOUT THE DARK SHEEP IN THEIR PROFESSION.
 
IT IS TOO EASY TO THROW DIRT ON OTHERS; ONLY WHEN JOURNALISTS CAN INVESTIGATE THEIR PEERS WILL THEY RESTORE THEIR TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC. 

OUR HOPES FOCUS ON THE YOUNGER UNTAINTED LOT OF YOUNG REPORTERS AND JOURNALISTS TO EXPOSE THE ROT THROUGH BLOGS AND LISTS. 

BECAUSE IT IS NEAR-IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE REGULAR MEDIA CHANNELS TO TAKE THIS UP. 

WE ALSO APPEAL TO THE ETHICS COMMITTEE (OR EQUIVALENT) OF THE NATIONAL JOURNALISTS’ UNION TO PROBE THIS MATTER AND PUNISH THOSE WHO ARE GUILTY AND TO LAY DOWN GUIDELINES TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF CORRUPTION IN THEIR MIDST.

If you agree with the above, please forward this message to your friends so that we jointly push for clean, trustworthy journalism in Pakistan.

Syed Inam Alavi, Ph.D.
Columbia Journalism School, NYC,
(For Yellow Journalism Watch)

Clip_6

Clip_3Clip_2

Comments (2)

Solution to Fight Corruption

March 6, 2009 at 10:04 am · Filed under Corruption ·Tagged

clip_11Ending Corruption: Towards a Collaborative Strategy

 

Prof. Syed Ahsanul Alam

professorparvez@gmail.com,

www.goodgovernancebd.org

 

Corruption in its all shades and color is the illegal tool of accumulating illegal wealth depriving a person which creates inequality and social injustice. Corruption destroys social order, rule of law and all good governance efforts. Corruption and the corrupt are the enemies of the people and the society in any country. That is why fighting corruption and installing honesty is a pre condition for good governance for ensuring human rights, human dignity, equality and social justice and better business environment.

 

Holding a prominent position in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 5 consecutive years has tarnished our image, and in such a situation majority of the citizens did not know what to do and how to start a fight against this man made tool of exploitation called corruption. Under the previous oppressive corrupt governance and social system conscious citizens attempted to raise voice against this evil through the media or different civil societies organizations. Today everybody including the Chairman Anti-Corruption Commission emphasizes on the reality of designing a collaborative strategy to limit this evil call corruption. The following nonviolent silent strategies may be used to curve down corrupt practices in every sector of the society.

 

Ending Corruption: Naming and shaming strategy

Naming and shaming can be a very effective tactic to eradicate corruption in any country. Even in developing countries, where corruption is accepted as a necessary evil, naming and shaming tactic has been effective in recent years.  In India, high profile cases uncovered and actively reported by the citizen action group have led to disgraceful dismissals of high level government officials and even criminal action against public figures. No such example has been set by the political governments in the past.  But citizen action groups or the media demonstrated ability to generate outrage among the public that can be channeled productively to control and eradicate corruption. Nobody can undermine the role and power of media in the society for establishing good governance.

 

Ending Corruption: Creating awareness strategy among the Stakeholders

Everyday policy makers, professionals, business leaders, sociologist, economists and others independently generate amazing number of ideas and thoughts. The reasons that these ideas don’t come to fruition is because like-minded reformers do seldom collaborate to bring changes.  There are a lot of international and domestic organizations, NGOs, government agencies, opinion leaders and others – that are all individually working on tackling corruption in a piece-meal fashion.  A more comprehensive approach to address corruption will be more fruitful.  Corruption can be marginalized if not eliminated if all stakeholders work together in a coordinated manner against corruption. 

 

Ideas and thoughts are ineffective if not put to actions. Unless what is thought is acted upon, such thought has no value.  What is important is the commitment of all the citizens – leaders of respective fields– to take on the challenge of ending corruption and to do one’s own part to address it in a collaborative manner.  Corruption, as in all affairs in society may be viewed from the two sides: a demand side and a supply side.  The demand side can only be curbed by reforms of institutions, strengthened enforcement of law by a transparent judiciary.  As the owner of the country all citizens are affected by corruption everyday, and as such they should insist reforms of the legislative, executive and judicial organ of the country. The stake holders of a corruption free society should get united to raise voice against corruption to curve the supply side. Thus the citizens will have to participate in the battle against corruption and only moral support to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is not enough to eliminate corruption.

 

Ending Corruption: Creating awareness among the Civil Society

Citizens face potential corruption practically at every level and every sector of life. It could be the local police, T.N.T, electricity and water authority, Municipal Corporation or the tax department. Government alone cannot succeed in combating corruption without the active participation of civil society and citizen action groups. Civil society is in the best position to articulate the grievances of the citizen and highlight priorities of action on corruption to governments. Civil society can serve many important roles–as observer, critic, analyst, campaigner, or protestor. It can create public awareness against corruption and mobilize citizens to fight against corruption in ways that governments cannot. Civil society can also play a strong role to organize campaigns against corruption. Center For Good Governance is working with many civic organizations for capacity building of such organization.

 

Ending Corruption: Creating awareness among Chambers and Trade Bodies

As Civil society organizations, Citizens’ action groups, NGOs, media, and Chambers–can play the largest role in improving governance both in the public and private sector.  Similarly Chambers can be more active by organizing seminars, workshops, round tables to generate awareness against corruption and unethical business practice. Chambers can establish anti corruption cell headed by a vice president with adequate funds to establish liaison with media, anti corruption commission (ACC) and other government agencies to combat corruption and protect its members from extortion and corrupt claims. Mega chambers should formulate code of conduct for their members and put pressure on the members for compliance.  Awareness regarding code of conduct for members of chambers would have trickle down effect on smaller business enterprises and so on. 

 

Ending Corruption: Creating awareness among Private Sector

The private sector can play a more active role in rooting out the supply side of corruption.  It is painful that most businessman and citizens looks at corrupt practice as a system.  According to unofficial estimates many business house just account for it on their books – as much as 10% – adding to the cost of doing business.  Business leaders as well as the government should take initiatives so that local and foreign investors can set up business enterprise and function without resorting to corruption and extortion.  After 1/11/07 the present Anti corruption commission (ACC) visibly started a crusade against corruption which may be looked upon as a proactive move towards corruption free governance.

 

For eradicating corruptions the private sector must emphasize on internal controls and auditing mechanisms.  Corporate bodies and business houses needs to set clear and enforceable policies against corrupt or unethical business practices.  Business house need to periodically train middle and senior management on business ethics to ensure that standards are institutionalized throughout the organization.  Business houses should change their mind-set to prefer managers having comprehensive business education with emphasis on ethics.  Any business managers can not afford to be unaware of global ethical standards for doing business.

 

Conclusion

In a developing country for good governance the fight against corruption is not easy. It is expected the present caretaker government, patriot citizens and other stakeholders will be able to address the most difficult challenge – fighting corruption. Corruption is a tremendous deterrent to good governance and development, and its burden falls heaviest on the shoulders of the poor people. An effective Anti-Corruption Commission – with strong political backing, can become a credible tool to deter corruption. All concerned should help the ACC to be fully operative. If we want to establish corruption free business friendly environment, wants to  become a country free of poverty and economically strong, where every citizen will enjoy his or her rights and a better quality life, ending corruption is the most important need. It is the responsibility of every stakeholder to respond to this need towards corruption free, transparent, participatory good governance ensuring equity and social justice.

 

No body will deny that, in our society, the past governance mechanism was far less then satisfactory. Many issues and problems were the barriers to ensure good governance, equity and social justice.  Weak watchdog institutions corruption, political interference in administration, nepotism, misuse of power, absence of rule of law, non-accountable and non-transparent governments etc. are the common features of our governance which needs to be addressed on urgent basis.

 

Leave a Comment

Corruption in Pakistan

December 22, 2008 at 7:47 am · Filed under Asif Ali Zardari, Corruption ·Tagged , ,

Nayer Bari the notorious Director General of TQMD (Textile Quota
Management Directorate) under Ministry of Commerce during PPP regime who absconded after robbing the country of about Rs.2.0 billions and had agreed to cough up to NAB Rs.1.5 billions has returned to Pakistan and exonerated by NAB court. he is being paid Rs.8.0 millions in back benefits and being appointed Chairman, Pakistan National Insurance Corporation. 
 
Asif Zardi’s frequent disappearances in New York were for a good purpose. He was shown around properties in the loot sale in New York by Pakistan’s lobbyist Mark Siegal ( Hired for $1.2 Million per Year of poor Pakistanis’ money). His frequent visits to Dubai were in the same connection. Business comes first.
 
Husain Haqqani, who gets a salary of $ 25,000 per month ( as against
normal $ 3000) was missing from US during the Mumbai blasts when all media was blaming Pakistan.
 
Isfandyar Wali paid $ 35 millions by USA for support for bombings in
Northern Pakistan for staying quiet . His agent in Karachi Shahi Syed is
trying to get the tougher pathans in Karachi to be gunned down by
Police. he handed down a list of undesirable Pathan leaders to Sindh
Home minister. MQM has found a perfect partner in ANP and Shahi Syed. US Embassy paying ANP hefty sums to clear Sultanabad of Pathans which abuts the new under construction consulate.
 
Rehman Dakait, Chief of Lyari gang in cohorts with Nabeel Gabol, PPP Minister for Ports n Shipping trying to pack Police with members of their Gang.
 
MQM wilted from carnage of pathans after killing more than 30 innocent pathans after getting money from RAW on threat by agencies to disclose their April 12th role in the Massacre of Lawyers in Karachi. They were also, by this way trying to improve their bargaining position to get greater share in federal cabinet and Ministries of their choice.
 
Agha Rafiq to be made Chief Justice of Pakistan when Abdul Hameed Dogar retires in March 2009. He is given same seniority as Justice Nazim Husain Siddiqi and as such will be senior to Iftikhar Chaudhry.
 
Asif Zardari has told Sadruddin Hashwani that he wants to get his house Number 1, Margalla Islamabad. Mr Hashwani left Pakistan with his family.
 
Governor State Bank Dr. Shamshad Akhter visited the mazar of Benazir Bhutto two weeks ago. She is bending backwards to please Asif Zardari and claimed his relationship on Sindhi grid. She has been telling owners of smaller banks to transfer management to Asif Zardari’s front man Mr Husain Lawaii.She seeks extention as Governor for another term. She is to retire this December 2008.
 
Mr. Zardari has expressed desire to buy Agha Khan Hospital and naming it after BB Shaheed.
 
After announcing to disclose tapes and transcripts of conversion between Indian Foreign Minister and Mr .Zardari by Sherry Rehman they were quick to renege and asked media to remove the ticker from the screens. It was found that no such record or tape existed as Mr Zardari had order that his calls will not be screened or taped.
 
Mr Zardari was given first snub by ISI when he promised to send over the ISI Chief to India. His explanation was that his commitment was neither a Quranic verse nor Sunnah.

 

Mushir Hasan

Leave a Comment

Older Posts »