A meeting of the Public Account Committee (PAC) was held on Tuesday where former chairman of National Database and Registration Authority Tariq Malik and Nadra Technologies Limited (NTL) officers were accused of corruption worth Rs14 billion.

PAC’s Chairman MNA Noor Alam Khan handed over an “anonymous” employee’s letter to the committee members and media in Islamabad on Tuesday that alleged that corruption worth Rs14 billion was done in the issuance of smart cards and tablets purchases for the census.

The letter accused Malik of favouritism in the NTL appointments. These appointees helped the former Nadra chairman in corruption, it claimed.

The FIA officials informed the committee that the statement of the former Nadra chairman has been recorded in the case pertaining to Nadra smart cards, the Iris recognition system, and the purchase of tablets’ for the census. They added that a joint investigation team would be formed for further investigations.

PAC Chairman Khan went on to add that the amount of alleged corruption was a whopping Rs14 billion, however, all the accused were still working other than Tariq Malik, who resigned from his post earlier this month.

PML-N MNA Sheikh Rohale Asghar urged that the officers under investigation should resign from their posts.

Earlier this month, Malik resigned from his post, citing a ‘charged and polarised political environment’ after his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“While it has been an absolute honour to lead NADRA, to have connected with so many wonderful individuals and institutions, and to have learnt so much, I find it increasingly difficult to work in a charged and polarised political environment,” he said in his resignation letter.

The FIA summoned Malik on May 19 in investigations pertaining to the award of a “contract to a favoured international company at an expensive price”.

Khan to oppose perks bill

The increase in the perks and privileges for the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker was also deliberated upon during the session, where the committee raised concerns over the proposed perks.

Khan showed concerns over the passing of the bill in the Senate on Monday.

PML-N lawmaker Asghar said that it was the PAC’s duty to raise its voice for safeguarding the people’s tax money.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla described the passing of the bill as “regrettable”. Many Senate members’ signatures were taken without showing them the content of the bill, he claimed.

The senators were given nominal allowance while all the other things were given to the Senate chairman and NA speaker, Mandviwalla added.

The committee would not let the NA pass the bill to increase the perk and privileges of parliament members, PAC Chairman Khan said.