Pakistan:PPP seeks inquiry into ‘fraud’ youth fest

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Alleging corruption in the Punjab Youth Festival, the PPP has called for a judicial inquiry into the event.

In an adjournment motion submitted with the Punjab Assembly Secretariat by MPA Faiza Malik on Monday, the PPP claimed the Guinness Book of World Record had denied any links with the festival while there were also reports of widespread financial corruption in the event. Therefore, a judicial inquiry should be conducted by a Lahore High Court judge and the issue discussed in an open debate in the House.

Talking to Dawn, the MPA referred to a media report that quoted Guinness authorities as saying they had not sent any staff to certify the records, if any, claimed to have been set at the festival.

She claimed that Rs500 million had been paid to Guinness for registration of records to be set at the festival.

Usman Anwer, director general of the Punjab Sports Board, the organiser of the festival, said the board would come up with a concrete reply within 48 hours. He had been asked how much money the board had paid to Guinness for registration of records and whether the authorities had proofs of participation of the Guinness staff at the event. An official in the sports department said the government had signed a memorandum of understanding with Guinness and paid around ¤£1.5 million as fee for monitoring and certification of the records. He claimed the Guinness authorities had nominated locals for monitoring and registration of the records due to security concerns.

Punjab Sports Minister Rana Mashhood was not available for comments. The person who attended the call promised to revert with the minister’s reply but did not until the filing of this report.