ARD releases another ‘fact sheet’ on SGS case

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) issued another ‘fact sheet’ on the Swiss accounts case against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari on Monday, pointing out that the company accused of bribing the two had filed a case against the Pakistani government for damage to its reputation and termination of its contract with the government.

“The Swiss company, Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), has rejected the so-called findings of Swiss Investigating Officer Daniel Devaud and filed a claim against the government of Pakistan demanding $329 million in damages on account of premature termination of the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) contract and damage caused to its reputation,” a press release from ARD Deputy Information Secretary Munir Ahmad Khan says

“The Swiss company has vehemently denied having paid any kickback or commission to Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari for procuring the contract. The award of contract was fair, transparent and based on a competitive process of bidding and at no stage did it indulge in corrupt or unethical practices.”

According to the press release, an SGS claim filed at an Islamabad court states that the way the case was investigated “shows a deep conspiracy to target a political opponent”. The SGS claim said the transcripts of phone conversations between Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum and former Ehtesab Bureau chairman Saifur Rehman Khan had already exposed the “conspiracy” to malign the PPP leadership at the behest of the establishment.

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