National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recovered a sum of 730 million in cash from the home of Secretary Finance Mushtaq Raisani. This led to arrest and suspension of Mushtaq Raisani and resignation of Advisor to Chief Minister of Finance Khalid Langove. This was an unprecedented event in history of Balochistan.
Read Also: Anti-corruption Drive: Secretary Finance Arrested and Advisor Resigned
Balochistan Voices talked to different people asked for their comments on the latest anti-corruption drive started in Balochistan.
Senator Saifullah Magsi
Current coalition headed first by Dr. Malik and now by PMLN has been brazenly stating many times that they are better than past governments and they have gone tough against corruption. It is not possible for a finance secretary or any secretary for that matter, to misuse powers like this without some connivance or knowledge of other high ups. Just the fact that the huge amount of money that has been recovered allegedly from this persons house is a tell tale of what has been going on in Balochistan. However, it has to be said that for now, he is possibly going to be remanded. Let us see what investigations NAB has done that has led to this raid and arrest and what information they had.
Nawab Ghaus Baksh Barozai – Former caretaker Chief Minister of Balochistan
Sorry state of affairs in Balochistan is reflected when a top level official was arrested and a huge and unbelievable amount of riches were taken into custody by NAB from his home. This Officer could have done wonders for the poor masses of Balochistan but he looted the trust of the people. I know and believe there are so many of them.
Zahoor Buledi – Former MPA
Corruption is a menace which must be curbed at all levels. This poor province has already been suffering due to worst social indicators. This particular case has proven the level of corruption of the incumbent rulers. It should be carried out across the board irrespective of politicians, civil bureaucracy and para-military forces with good intentions. Unfortunately, the poor masses are deprived of basic facilities like education, health and clean drinking water but the provincial wealth is at the hands of few. NAB must be appreciated for nabbing corruption in Balochistan.
Anonymous Retired Bureaucrat
Main reason is lack of supervision by Chief Secretary. If secretary finance was continuously fleecing various clients, how Chief Secretary remained ignorant? Minister Finance has little or no knowledge of Public Finances. Releases are reportedly made direct, bypassing established channel of AG Office. Monitoring of PSDP is responsibility of P&D Department, where there is no evaluation and Monitoring mechanism.
Jan Achakzai – Senior Analyst
NAB has done a good job. Corruption has been systematic in Balochistan’s bureaucracy. Nawab Zehri government is aware of clean governance so it has raised bar for all government ministers. According 2 PILDAT survey, Balochistan is now on top, with 74 percent point, on the scale of anti-corruption measures. Credit goes to Zehri Government. Yet it is time to cleanse all departments of corrupt elements, check procurements, commissions in projects. Balochistan deserves transparent governance.
Shahzada Zulfiqar – President Quetta Press Club
Arrest of Mushtaq Raisani is a part of nation-wide anti-corruption drive which has finally been started in Balochistan. It seems that this drive will continue in the province and other ministers and bureaucrats will also be apprehended by NAB on charges of corruption. Balochistan government will not be toppled as a result of this anti-corruption drive because all 65 members of the assembly are not corrupt. If this anti-corrution drive proves to be partial and selective like Musharraf era then it will be futile.
Tania Baloch – Editor-in-Chief Balochistan Inside
Poor state of infrastructure in the province proves that there is ongoing corruption in Balochistan. Corruption in Balochistan is not restricted to one place or department. Its spread from Hub to Chaman and to each and every department of the province. All the ministers and bureaucrats should be held accountable whether they are current or former. A secretary alone can’t carry out corruption at such a huge scale. Accountability should be carried out for people starting from the dictatorial period of Musharraf. It’s good that anti-corruption drive has started in Balochistan but it will be fruitless if big fish are spared.
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