LAHORE:
Days after launching a bomb and blowing the whistle in the bureaucracy of the country, the Minister of Defense, Khawaja Asif, doubled on Monday his criticisms, pointing to “luxurious indulgences” of public officials and asking for urgent legislative reforms to control them.
Speaking on a private news channel, the minister cited amazing figures from a report, saying that a colossal RS3.5 billion was spent annually in bureaucrats. “According to a request [Pakistan Institute of Development Economics] Report, RS860 million is spent throughout the service period of a single bureaucrat, “he added.
Although he did not accuse the entire civil service, Asif alleged that “25 to 30 percent” of the bureaucracy was corrupt. “I will personally demand my own government to legislate on bureaucracy,” he promised.
He urged that bureaucrats are legally obliged to declare their assets annually, arguing that “no other sector has as much corruption as bureaucracy.”
Pointing to the “dazzling disparity” in the rules of dual nationality, he said: “No politician, judge or army officer in Pakistan can have dual nationality … only bureaucrats can. This privilege must end.”
He also demanded the end of the “endless assignment of plots” to bureaucrats, saying that such advantages should not be treated as a right.
The minister also said that he had not expected his previous statement about some bureaucrats to buy properties in Portugal caused such an uproar. He revealed that he was now conducting an investigation and intended to expose those involved.
