ISI Officials to Get Millions for Exposing Corruption in Karkey Rental Power Project

The federal government will reward the Core Committee members for exposing corruption in the Karkey Rental Power Project. As per reports concerning damages avoided, the federal government estimates the investigation helped save $1.2 billion in rental power payments.

The list of recipients entitled to receive cash rewards includes Head of International Dispute Unit, Ahmad Irfan Aslam, Sector Commander ISI, Brigadier Rana Arfan Shakeel Ramay, and Col. Farooq Shahbaz (ISI).


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Developmental Backdrop and the Corruption

Timeline

Detailing its plans to overcome the nationwide energy crisis, the Ministry of Law and Justice presented a summary to the government for a Rental Power Project (RPP) Policy as a solution-based approach.

The Turkish company, Karkey Karadeniz Electric Uterim, secured tenders under the new policy for generating power from its ships docked at Karachi port in 2008.

In March 2012, it was determined that all rental power projects stationed along with Karachi port, including Karkey, had been authorized against Public Procurement Rules. In due course, the Sindh High Court ordered the seizure of all Karkey vessels the very next year in May.

Three months later, Karkey approached the International Centre for Settlement of International Disputes (ICSID) per regulations anointed under the Pakistan-Turkey Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) of 1997.

In August 2017, the ICSID court of law delivered a resounding verdict against Pakistan in violation of Karkey’s investment, which resulted in the privately-owned company’s assets to be operated by a government without cause.

The court also awarded the Turkish company settlement payments in access of $800 million. On 1st December 2019, this amount increased to $1.2 billion inclusive of interest.

Remedial Proceedings

With local authorities furious with the verdict leveled against Pakistan, the Power Division formed the Core Committee in September 2017.

As per records, the committee comprised of the Head of International Dispute Unit, Ahmad Irfan Aslam, Joint Secretary Power Division, Zargham Eshaq Khan, Sector Commander ISI, Brig. Rana Arfan Shakeel Ramay, and Col. Farooq Shahbaz (ISI).

The Core Committee devised a succinct strategy for the case, as explained below:

  • Initiating investigation into the grant of the contract to Karkey, and to challenge the ICSID Tribunal’s decision on evidence of corruption, if found.
  • Resisting enforcement of the award in domestic courts of countries where Karkey had initiated enforcement proceedings, including the U.S., the UK, Canada, France, and the Netherlands.
  • Engaging with Karkey to explore possibilities of an out-of-court settlement.

The next phase of the committee’s action plan revolved around putting the underlined strategy into action. What followed was a series of astonishing revelations that uncovered footprints of money laundering and other corrupt practices in Dubai (UAE), Lebanon, Turkey, Switzerland, and Panama.

When presented with the newfound evidence of malpractice and corruption, Karkey was left with no other choice but to forego its claim on damages worth $1.2 billion. The Turkish President personally intervened to deal with the situation, offering his sincerest apologies to the government of Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan was presented with the zero-settlement deal on 4th November 2019. A meeting of the federal cabinet later approved the terms of the settlement.

Reward Entitlement

The Core Committee deserves commendations for its efforts to help save Pakistan a sum of $1.2 billion.

A study claims that if Pakistan had paid the sum, its GDP would have shrunk by nearly 2 percent. Perhaps even worse, the country would’ve defaulted on its international obligations, potentially giving insurgents an undesirable opening.

In his letter to the Prime Minister in November 2019, the Attorney General for Pakistan requested the government to reward the members of the committee. PM Imran approved the AGP’s recommendation and directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to prepare a formal summary in this regard.

In compliance with the well-wishes of the prime minister, President Arif Alvi conferred the civilian accolade of Sitara-e-Imtiaz upon three ISI officers for their exceptional role in drawing the case to a close.


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As per ministry sources, PM Imran has approved the Finance Division’s viewpoint, thereby directing relevant authorities to present the proposal before the federal cabinet for awarding Rs. 2 million each to concerned officers of ISI and the Attorney General’s Office.

The award ceremony will be conducted in the event the federal cabinet approves the proposal under the designated time.


  • Well Deserved reward.. HONEST PM and Patriot ISI Officials… ISI Zindabad… Pakistan Paindabad…

  • The last time a reward was announced for govt. servants for doing an excellent job, the Cheif Justice took notice and declared that officials should not be rewarded extra for “doing their job” as this would nurture vested interests.

  • I would also like to see action taken against the culprits, and exemplary sentences be handed over. The award should be given from the recovered monies.


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