Finance minister under pressure not to expose corrupt: MPs

KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of lawmakers on Wednesday accused the acting finance minister of collusion with other ‘corrupt’ figures after he did not share what he promised a list of those involved in corruption in customs revenue while some lawmakers opposed publicizing the list.

Mohammad Khalid Painda, acting finance minister on May 19, told a Wolesi Jirga or lower house session that around eight million US dollars were embezzled from the country’s customs offices on a daily basis and some government officials had employed their own people in these offices using their influence.

He said he had the list of officials who used their influence in employment of their own people and he was ready to share it with the people.

A number of Wolesi Jirga members asked for exposure of the list and Painda was expected to share the list with the parliament on Monday, however he refused to appear in the house.

Today, lawmakers again discussed the issue. NasimMudabir, a lawmaker from Baghlan province said, “The acting inteior minister did not fulfill his promise, his escape shows his collusion with corrupt figures. He is a criminal and will be introduced to the attorney office if he cannot show the list. Aside from that, he should be also disqualified from the lower house.”

Khalid Assad, a lawmaker from Paktia province, talking to the session held similar views and said that more than what the acting minister mentioned was being embezzled from the country’s customs offices.

He stressed on investigation into the case and said, “Acting finance minister should prove his allegations, otherwise he should face serious actions. If he can reveal the list, public representatives would stand by his side.”

A number of other lawmakers also stressed follow up of allegations made against lawmakers.

However, Fakoor Behishti, a lawmaker from Bamyan province said that some members of the house had exerted pressure on the acting finance minister not to appear in the house and retreat from publicizing the list.

He said that officials involved in corruption were trying to stop the list from being published. However, he did not provide further details. Behishti stressed that the corruption in customs offices should be seriously investigated.

Ahmad JavidJaihoon, first deputy speaker of Wolesi Jirga who was chairing today’s session expressed concern over corruption in the country’s customs offices and directed the National Economy Commission of the house to investigate the issue and share its report with lawmakers.

Pajhwok tried to contact the acting finance minister for his comment on the regard, but failed.

A day earlier, acting interior minister, Hayatullah Hayat and intelligence chief, Ahmad Zia Saraj also talked about corruption in customs offices and said that efforts were on for prevention of embezzlements in the country’s customs points.

Mds/ma