REFERENCE / COMPLAINT NO. I

Reference dated 16-1-2001 – Pakistan diplomat’s living in luxury - Washington

To:The Chairman
National Accountability Bureau
Islamabad.

Pakistan Peoples Party
through
Secretary General
Jehangir Bader   ----Complainant

Versus

Mr. Tanveer Ali Agha    ----Accused
Economic Counselor
Pakistan Embassy, Washington

Complaint u/s 18 (b) II of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance 1999

Respectfully sheweth

1.         Accused is holder of public office in terms of section 5 subsection (m) V of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance 1999 and is presently posted as an Economic Counselor in the Embassy of Pakistan - Washington, USA.

2.      The Petitioner/complainant has learnt from the news item published in the Daily Dawn on 16-12-2000 (copy of news clipping attached) regarding the corruption and corrupt practices of the accused which come under the ambit of section 9 of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance 1999 which are as follow:

       i. The Accused has been recently posted abroad in Pakistan Mission, USA to serve the economic interests of the country. He has upset the same (a) By demanding more and more dollars from the National exchequer for purchase of a new car, furniture where as the government has already provided him 16000 dollars (b) For repair and maintenance of his residence, the Accused has asked additional 5300 dollars (c) The Accused desired to buy Toyota Avolan car worth US $ 23000 whereas $5000 were available for the purchase of car but the Accused demanded much more (d) The Accused desired for removal of three staff members including the locally appointed stenographer and at the same time demanded for enhancement of the salary of the stenographer from $ 1700 to $ 2300 (e) the Accused traveled along with his family including father, wife, three sons and a servant on the government expense whereas reportedly his two sons are not dependant on him.

       ii. In view of the foregoing facts the Accused has made efforts to cause a loss to the National Exchequer and by his appointment abroad there is every likelihood of a continuing economic and financial loss to the country.

   3. It is therefore requested that proceedings against the Accused may be taken up for committing the offences of corruption and corrupt practices in contravention of the Section 9 of the Ordinance.

COMPLAINANT

Pakistan Peoples Party

Through

Secretary General
Jehangir Bader

Islamabad dated : 16 January 2001

The Reference / Complaint is based on the source incorporated as under :

Pakistan diplomat living in luxury

Dawn - December 16, 2000

ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: A senior officer recently posted abroad in a Pakistani mission to serve the economic interest of the country has upset many in the  finance ministry by demanding more and more dollars from the national  exchequer.

Sources said the government had already spent tens of thousands of dollars on  his posting abroad but the officer had been seeking more and more funds for a  new car, furniture equipment.  The government has already provided him 16,000  dollars for repair and maintenance of his residence and another $5,300 for  purchase of a car and equipment.

Dissatisfied, the officer posted in a western country, initially sent to the finance ministry a demand for an additional US $25,000 for repair and maintenance of residence and purchase of various household items. In a  subsequent letter, he communicated his revised demand by adding $2,000 more. Through yet another communication, the officer expressed his desire to buy a Toyota Avolan worth US $23,000. He said since during the current financial year $5,000 was available for the purchase of a car so he be provided at least $1,000 more under this head. The sources said some of the officer's demands might be met from the next budget outlay. Yet through another communication, the officer demanded that his office in the mission be revived to the position it had been in 1987. He said during 1987 the office had had a six-member staff which had been subsequently reduced to the present three.

The officer also told the finance ministry that he wanted to get rid of his locally appointed stenographer. However, amazingly enough, in the same letter the officer demanded that the salary of the stenographer be raised from  $1,700 to $2,300.  It is also learnt that the government bore traveling expenditures of six members of the officer's family, wife, three sons, a father and a servant.  Two of his sons, who are reportedly not dependent on him, but they, too, were provided air tickets.

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