Journalist Muhammad Malick has questioned the Punjab government over who received a commission of around Rs180 million on the purchase of the Rs9 billion luxury aircraft and why the identity of the person or company involved has not been disclosed.
Speaking on his programme, Malick said that the government had not yet revealed who handled the deal, what commission was paid and what procurement process was followed.
He said that commissions in international aviation generally range from 1 percent to 5 percent, while commissions on super luxury jets fall between 1 percent and 3 percent. Using 2 percent for calculation in the case of the aircraft, Malick said that the commission on a Rs9 billion aircraft would come to around Rs180 million.
“If the price is 9 billion, which Maryam Sahiba told today, then its commission at 2 percent is about 18 crore rupees,” he said.
Malick then questioned who received the commission and why the Punjab government had not provided details.
“To date, the Punjab government has not told who got this deal done? Who was the commission agent? Person? Individual? Company? Who was it? We know nothing,” he said.
He also questioned the tendering process and whether all legal requirements were followed.
“We don’t know the tendering process. We don’t know that which process was followed or not? Was every legal procedure fulfilled? Were the PPRA [Public Procurement Regulatory Authority] rules waived? Because for anything above 50 crores, everything happens through a tender. We know nothing,” Malick said.
He also questioned the payment details shown by CM Maryam for the use of said aircraft for her private trip to London, saying it was still unclear from where the payment had been made.
“Today, the Chief Minister Sahiba was angry, so 9 billion came before us. Then she showed the receipt too, but we don’t know that this payment has been made from a personal account, or from some company, or from some other individual?”
He stated that the source of such payments could be questioned when a person holds public office.
“It is our right to ask this because whenever you are in power, a chief minister or prime minister, and if anyone makes a payment on your behalf or for whatever reason, that is quid pro quo,” Malick said.
Malick stated that he had repeatedly sent 17 questions to the Punjab government and urged officials to provide answers instead of treating questions as an insult.
“So, I think that if you don’t get angry, then it is better and I have repeatedly sent 17 questions to their government, and we repeatedly mention them. So, I think if the answers to those questions come, then it is better. And this should not become an insult or disrespect,” he said.
He also defended journalists, vloggers and YouTubers who raise questions about public officials, saying that they were also part of the Pakistani public.
“If the media asks questions, or even those you call vloggers or YouTubers they are also a part of the public and they are asking questions for the public,” Malick said.
“No media person, no vlogger, or no such YouTuber will keep the answer to the question in the bank, they will share it with the people. Give the answers to the people if there are any,” he said.
