Tazeen Akhtar
It is matter of fact that Utility Stores Corporation is one of the most corrupt departments in Pakistan. Government of Pakistan allocates billions of PKR fund to give subsidy to the poor but only a small part of that reached to the people who should be main beneficiaries of this subsidy. Stories of corruption in USC have continuously been publishing and airing on press and media. Now the latest is about Muhammad Ali Umeer, Managing Director of Utility Stores himself. A 1 TV was airing the corruption stories and today its CEO Nawaz Vastro has been arrested.
Muhammad Ali Ammer, Managing Director filed an application at Police Station Secretariat Islamabad against Nawaz Vastro (CEO A1TV) and alleged that he met is a house as Brigadier of ISI. MD Ali Ammer has blamed Nawaz Vastro that he called me as ” We have received your security clearance. We do security clearance for every new head of department in Islamabad. So you came to us. To pass your security.”
MD USC further narrates in FIR ,” Nawaz Vastro called me at House No. 50, F-6/1 and claimed that this is our ISI Safe House/Intelligence Agency sub-sector office.He presented himself as Brigadier. Nawaz Vastro tried to request some postings/transfers of his men.”
The Secretariat Police arrested Vastro with double cabin registration number AKII-660 along with the vehicle and driver at Pakistan Television Chowk. Police is investigating the matter.
Apparently, MD USC has exaggerated in his FIR against the media boss. It does not happen like this way. No media person can impersonate himself as high official of any sensitive agency of the country, especially ISI. While the corruption is USC is widely known to everyone including the government and secret agencies personnel.
A 1 TV was regularly airing the stories of corruption in Prime Minister’s latest relief package for the poor. What MD has narrated that he was receiving calls continuously from Nawaz Vastro can actually be the attempts to get MD’s point of view only to avoid one sided stories.
It is known fashion in Pakistan to malign media with black mailing blames when media exposes their corruption and wrong doings. Utility Stores is the center of kickbacks, commissions, bribery, nepotism, unnecessary postings transfers, buying substandard products to oblige friends and paymasters.
What Police is expected to investigate mainly is the corruption allegations from the media are right or wrong? Mr. Nawaz Vastro has asked the favor? Is there any proof with MD USC? Is there any record of meeting between the two at the said place? Is there any proof that Nawaz Vastro actually asked for postings transfers?
Here, ISI is also supposed to intervene in investigation because its name has been used by MD USC. Whoever used the name of ISI, Nawaz Vastro or MD USC Ammer, should be brought to book. But certainly on merit and through thorough investigation.
