Mishal Pakistan, the Country Partner Institute of the World Economic Forum (WEF) — has formally requested the Chairman Senate, Senator Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, to initi-ate a high-level inquiry into alleged conflict of interest involving Senator Saifullah Abro that could further undermine foreign investor confidence and damage Pakistan’s rankings in global indices such as the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
The request, made via an official letter dated July 28, 2025, warns of serious implications for Pakistan’s institutional credibility and in-ternational standing.
Mishal Pakistan, led by a leading public policy expert CEO Amir Jahangir, flagged grave concerns over Senator Abro’s purport-ed misuse of his legislative role to influence infrastructure-related decisions of NHA, despite having direct familial and financial ties to a company with active contracts in the same domain.
According to media reports referenced in the media, Senator Abro is allegedly targeting officials within the National Highway Authority (NHA) while maintaining family links with Qalandar Bakhsh Abro & Company, a firm engaged in NHA projects. The firm is reportedly headed by his son and includes his daughter as a Director.
Jahangir warned that this duality violates multiple governance and legal standards, including Rule 163(1) of the Senate’s procedural rules, barring members from participating in matters where they hold pecuniary interest. Section 230 of the Elections Act, 2017, relating to disqualifi-cation on grounds of conflict of interest. And also Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution of Paki-stan, which set ethical and moral standards for lawmakers.
“This pattern of behavior is not new,” Jahangir emphasized. “Senator Abro was previously re-moved from chairing the Senate Committee on Power in 2023 after obstructing foreign donor-funded energy projects.” That episode was widely reported and led to reputational damage in international donor circles, the letter claims. This time, the allegations suggest interference in infrastructure projects involving international financing from the Asian Development Bank and implemented through Chinese firms.
Mishal Pakistan, which collects and contributes data to several global assessments in collabora-tion with the WEF and Transparency International, stressed the long-term risk to Pakistan’s im-age if such issues are not transparently addressed.
The letter requests that the Senate to launch an impartial inquiry under its internal accountabil-ity mechanisms. Temporarily recuse or suspend Senator Abro from all relevant committee roles pending investigation. Publicly disclose the findings to demonstrate a commitment to transpar-ency and institutional integrity.
The communication was also copied to the Secretary Senate Secretariat, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Rules and Privileges, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Communications.
