PAC questions supplementary grant of 5.5 Billion to ISI, 4 Billion to IB

[sparklingway]

PAC denied information about Rs5.5bn paid to ISI

ISLAMABAD: Eyebrows were raised on Tuesday when finance officials informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly about an unaccounted-for, one-time release of Rs5.55 billion to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during 2007-08 for its operations.

When pressed for details, Finance Secretary Salman Siddique opted to keep quiet. “This is highly sensitive information and hence I can’t talk about it at an open forum.”

According to information provided by the finance division to the PAC, the amount was paid to the ISI as a supplementary grant.

Despite repeated questions and light-hearted taunts by members of the committee, Mr Siddique refused to share any details.

Details provided to media-persons simply described the amount as “provision for relief during the financial year 2007-2008”. The only thing the secretary was willing to concede was that the head was a cover-up.

Khwaja Asif of the PML-N asked: “How long shall we keep on fooling ourselves?”

PPP’s Yasmin Rehman, who presided over the meeting, said: “How can we settle such a heavy amount without knowing any details?” If the information was not to be shared with the PAC there was no need to bring the matter to the notice of the members, she said.

Afzal Chan of the PPP said the funding for intelligence agencies was beyond anyone’s comprehension.

PAC Chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan did not attend the meeting.In reply to a question, the finance secretary said strategic dictates had forced the government to make the payment. He also said that the money had been provided in lump sum.

DAWN.COM | Front Page | Rs72bn army pensions shown as civilian expenses: PAC denied information about Rs5.5bn paid to ISI

Rs5.5b secret funding to intelligence outfit

ISLAMABAD: The General Pervez Musharraf-led government had released Rs5.5 billion to the nation’s premier intelligence agency out of the funds allocated to the finance ministry just a couple of months before the general elections of 2008, reveals the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR).

The revelation is a second major blow to the reputation of spy agencies within 48 hours and that too on the same platform – Public Accounts Committee (PAC) – after Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Monday that the spy agencies were involved in picking up journalists and rigging elections.

Shahnawaz Khan, the AGPR told the PAC that the money was released under the cover of “relief” from November 10, 2007 to December 17, 2007. On November 10, the finance ministry released Rs140 million to the premier intelligence agency. After 13 days, Rs2.2 billion were again released to the agency. Five days later Rs50 million were again handed over to the agency. Likewise, on December 12, three supplementary grants amounting to Rs2 billion were given to the spy agency out of the funds allocated for the finance ministry.

“It was strange that the government gave funds to the intelligence agency from the finance ministry’s allocation,” said a former secretary finance on condition of anonymity. He said in his tenure the defence ministry was responsible to meet the agency needs, of all sorts.

Secretary Finance Salman Siddique refused to share details of the funds utilisation terming it “sensitive information”. On Monday, Secretary Cabinet too did not disclose the details of Intelligence Bureau’s funds.

The PAC, despite being in the habit of grilling civilian institutions on exceeding expenditure limits, settled over Rs21 billion of excess spending by the intelligence agency and military pensions.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/53124/rs5-5b-secret-funding-to-intelligence-outfit/

Placement of Shahzada Alam, former chairman PTA in ECL, special audit of his service tenure ordered

PAC reviewed the audit objections in respect of cabinet division for the year 2008-9 in its meeting on Monday. Audit told the committee that supplementary grant of Rs 4000 million was released to Intelligence Bureau (IB) on May, 31, 2008 but it was not known for what purpose it was utilized.

Member committee Riaz Pirzada demanded that secret accounts of IB be also subjected to audit. DG IB Javed Anwar told the committee he was ready to give in camera briefing in this connection if committee wanted to know about the details.

ONLINE - International News Network

 

[sparklingway]

Supplementary grant for ISI = Rs 5.5 Billion
Supplementary grant for IB = Rs 4 Billion
Federal Government Health Budget in 2007-08 : Rs 5.24 billion

What priorities.

PS : Imagine the overall budgetary allocation for the "agencies" that have failed to protect us from terrorism.

 

[trident2010]

Where did ISI spend Rs 5.55 billion?


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI got itself an allocation of a whopping Rs 5.55 billion, apparently for covert operations, but has not accounted for it.

And now, the country's top officials appear reluctant to disclose how and on what the military intelligence agency spent the huge sums on.

According to information provided by the finance ministry to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC), the amount was paid to the ISI as a supplementary grant during the financial year 2007-2008.

Grilled by the Parliamentary watchdog, all Finance Secretary Salman Siddiqui had to say was "this is highly sensitive information and hence I can't talk about it at an open forum".

He merely told the Parliamentary watchdog that the money was released to the ISI for operations. But opted to keep quiet when asked for details, media reports said today.


Where did ISI spend Rs 5.55 billion? - The Times of India

 

[graphican]

Sorry buddy it was reported by Indian Media. I thought you had some credible resource but never mind.. you can Come again later.

On the side note, India has an agenda against ISI so even if it is reporting something that has traces of truth, that becomes meaningless among pile of rubbish.

 

[Kambojaric]

blowing up bridges in Delhi

 

[ek_indian]

Nonsense atricle. There is no absolute way ISI could have 5.5 billion dollar budget.
Besides this, what de we mean by "non accounted"...I guess any such intelligence agency is not transparent to these. I do not mean they do not reveal or get checked at all. I mean they are not open to media or normal audits.

Lastly, why is ToI interested in this. This is Pakistan's internal matter. We have our own issues from CWG to Kashmir to maoist to Babri Masjid verdict to what not.

In short, poor journalism.

 

[SpArK]

BS news.. why are people worried about the accounts of a spy agency from another country.. do they need to file tax in Indian Tax department???

India needs to worry only about the account of "its" agencies . not of any others..

 

[Optimus]

It was 5.5 bilion rupees

 

[Spring Onion]

Lolzz when was the last time any Government give money to the spy agency under a record and then also ask for details of covert operations.

 

[gowthamraj]

Even raw only have a billion dollar budget

 

[Spring Onion]

It was 5.5 bilion rupees

Such peanuts they distribute for only collecting paper cutting heheheh

sorry but thats how it is.

for covert operation they need hugggggggggggggggge money

 

[hecj]

now i believe isi is number 1.something is needed to surpass the cia/raw/mossad

 

[SpArK]

Even raw only have a billion dollar budget

Source please!!!!

As far as i know its only $150 million to maximum.

 

[Spring Onion]

Source please!!!!

As far as i know its only $150 million to maximum.

Huge amount to arrest ISI Pigeon agents by RAW

 

[mjnaushad]

according to my sources A simple Informer get 20000 monthly from ISI plus information based money......

By looking at the number of operation ISI is involved its not a big amount its rather 1 or 2 months.....You need to throw money sometimes without telling anyone....



Anyway some good source will be appreciated.