PPP files reference against Jonejo, others

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Peoples Party has demanded the immediate arrest of Minister of Agriculture, Khair Mohammad Jonejo, Secretary Agriculture, Randhawa, the Director General, Marine Fisheries Department, M Q Raza and the owners and directors of the companies involved in gross corruption and irregularity in allocation of Deep Sea Licences.

In a reference lodged by Pakistan People Party in the National Accountability Bureau, it is said that the licences have been awarded to the companies persons already declared corrupt and blacklisted by the Pakistan Navy.

These companies include M/s World Trade International, M/s Shahbaz Traders, Mr. Changez and Mr. Rahim of M/s Sea Hawk (Pvt) Ltd., M/s Siegfried Beacon Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., M/s Siegfried Farms and M/s NAFCO (Pvt) Ltd.

The reference further reads, “It is also regrettable that in spite of the fact that the matter had been brought to the notice of the President as early as 28th May 2002 vide Advisor to Chief Executive’s note UO No F. 3-5/2002-ACE (FA&L) followed by the complaint of Syed Salim Khan on 6th of June 2002 and later vide the Advisors UO No F1-/NFDB/Adv/ FA&I/2002, dated 6th July, 2002, the Office of the President has not issued any orders for an investigation/enquiry into the matter nor for arrest of the culprits involved in this multi million dollar scam and an even bigger criminal attempt to damage the environment and the eco balance by destroying the fishing stock in the territorial waters of Pakistan. Silence for months from the top office is nothing but an attempt to cover up this scandal”.

With this reference, “Another document attached, as a link to the South Asian Tribune’s article is a complaint-dated 6.6.2002 of Syed Salim Khan addressed to President General Pervez Musharraf. In this communication it has been alleged that: “1. That, a ‘bribe’ of US $ 100,000.00 was paid, for the issuance of the LOIs to the already black listed Deep Sea Fishing Companies. “2 That, the following have received this illegal gratification: “a. Mr. Khair Mohammed Junejo, Federal Minister for Agriculture, “b. Mr. Randhawa, Federal Secretary Agriculture. “c. Mr. S.Q.Raza, Director General, Marine Fisheries Department”

“In this connection the following documents are enclosed: “i. Report published in South Asia Tribune Issue No 7 of 7th September 2002 entitled ‘Hard evidence of Corruption in Deep Sea Fishing’.[ – Annexure ‘A’] “ii. Report of Mr. M Shafi Niaz, Advisor to the Chief Executive sent to the Chief Executive through Lt Gen Hamid Javaid, COS to the Chief Executive vide Advisor’s UO No F1-/NFDB/Adv/FA&I/2002, dated 6th July, 2002. [Referred to in the above article of the South Asia Tribune and appended and reproduced therein as a link file – Annexure ‘B’] “iii. Communication of Syed Salim Khan dated 6.6.2002 addressed to General Pervez Musharraf. [Referred to in the above article of the South Asia Tribune and appended and reproduced therein as a link file – Annexure ‘C’] “iv. Press clipping from DAWN dated 25-7-2002 captioned “Five Vessels begin Deep sea Fishing” – Annex – ‘D’.”

“The Pakistan Peoples Party has therefore called upon NAB to: “a. Launch an immediate enquiry into the case of graft, corruption and gross irregularities in the allocation of Deep Sea Fishing Licences causing loss of millions of dollars to the exchequer and at the same time depleting the available fishing stock in the territorial waters of Pakistan by tacitly ignoring the corrupt practices during deep sea fishing operation by the ‘favourite’ companies identified by the Pakistan Navy. “b. Initiate appropriate criminal action based on the enquiry report of the Pakistan Navy about the persons/firms/companies declared as being involved in corrupt practices during deep sea fishing operations. “c. Immediately arrest officials of the Ministry of Agriculture involved in this scandal as well as the owners/directors of the black listed companies/firms who have been allocated Deep Sea Fishing Licences.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party has called for: “a. Framing of appropriate charges of “• Abuse of public office, “• Misuse of authority, “• Gross irregularity in allocation of licences to black listed companies for illegal gratification, “• Causing loss to the public exchequer. “b. Immediate arrest on above charges of the following: “i. Mr. Khair Mohhammad Junejo, Minister for Agriculture. “ii. Mr. Randhawa, Secretary Agriculture and now Chief Secretary Punjab. “iii. Mr. M.Q. Reza, Director General , Marine Fisheries Department. “iv. Owners/Directors of Ms World Trade International. “v. Owners/Directors of M/s Shahbaz Traders, M/s Shahbaz Shipping & Trading Company (Pvt) Ltd. including Mr. Shahbaz Anwar and other family members i.e. mr, Kashif Anwar and Kamal Anwar who have also been issued licences. “vi. Owners/Directors of M/s Sea Hawks, M/s Sea Hawks (Put) Ltd, M/s Mehran Fisheries & M/s Ocean Grace Fisheries (Pvt) Ltd. including Mr. Changez, Mr. Rahim and Mr. Fazlur Rahman. “vii. Owners/Directors of M/s Sigrid Beacon Pakistan (Put.) Ltd, M/s Sigrid farms and M/S NAFKO (Put) Ltd.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party also feels that some of these culprits are likely to escape the country to avoid accountability as such they may be placed on the Exit Control List immediately.—SANA