PM sacks chairman PSM on corruption charges

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said he sacked the chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) Moeen Aftab Khan, on signing secret agreements with Chinese companies. Rasool Bakhsh Phalpoto will work as interim chairman steel mills. The action against the chairman steel mills has been taken after the details of a secret agreement of $2.2 billion with a Chinese company were exposed. According to sources, the agreement was made to increase the production capacity of the mills but no procedure was followed to sign such agreement. Addressing the National Assembly, Prime Minister said he ordered an inquiry against Moeen Aftab and directed the authorities to submit to him a report in this connection, adding there were myriad reports on media regarding corruption in PSM. The PM Gilani said Public Accounts Committee can take notice on corruption reports, adding he wants complete audit of the PSM. Gilani said the institutions of the country should be strong, adding he is great proponent of accountability and the PM house could be the beginning point for the purpose. He also remarked that census will be held as soon as the situation improves in FATA, adding the nation cannot improve without it. PML-Q leader Faisal Saleh Hayat welcomed the steps taken by the prime minister to eliminate corruption. Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the government immediately takes actions on information of corruption by media. He told that Banned organization chief Ali Sher Haideris murder was a result of personal rivalry, adding that child rights protection bill had been extradited to the law ministry. The national assembly session will resume tomorrow at 5 pm.