Aslam's appeal for reinstatement had earlier been rejected by the chief secretary and the Board of Revenue. PHOTO: FILE
A patwari who was dismissed from service for “causing huge losses to the exchequer” and “insubordination” has been reinstated and might be posted to the same office where he was accused of corruption.
Former commissioner Captain(r) Naseem Nawaz reinstated Munshi M Aslam, who was dismissed on January 3, 2009 by the then deputy district officer (DDO) (Revenue) Cantt. His appeal for reinstatement had earlier been rejected by the chief secretary and the Board of Revenue.
Aslam is currently being tried by the anti-corruption court. According to a policy letter issued by the Services and General Administration department (S&GAD), issued in November 2013, an official of the provincial government – who has either been declared a proclaimed offender or against whom a case is pending in the anti corruption court cannot be posted to important offices.
Aslam was posted as patwari in Charrar, village of Lahore Cantt on January 10, 2007. A little more than a year later – on July 22, 2008 – he was suspended from service on account of his “non availability to the general public and unwillingness to redress their problems”. According to government record, he was summoned by the Cantt DDO (revenue) to clarify his position but he did not appear before the DDO despite repeated summons.
A letter sent by the Cantt assistant commissioner, dated May 17, 2012 – a copy of which is available to The Express Tribune – states that the DDO (revenue) found “many misappropriations” in the land record being maintained by Aslam.
According to the letter, the said patwari did not change the record of land that had been transferred to Defence Housing Authority. The land record showed that the property was owned by private individuals. Also, in many other records Aslam left blank, columns of Register Khasra Girdawari that detail the area, location and owner and tenant details.
A total of 12 show cause notices were issued to Aslam in 2008 but he failed to appear before the DDO (revenue), following which a charge sheet was issued on October 25, 2012. According to the letter, he “fled” from the patwar khana after locking it.
All attempts, by The Express Tribune, to reach Aslam and Nawaz failed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2014.
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Thana,kcharey& patwaris culture have deep roots in our society. Our political culture promotes& protect it as it is an important tool, used to secure their seats in d Assemblies.Also in rural area, people r divided on d basis of " Bradries&cast". Moreover disputes& rivalries between them lead to get d help from influential politicans.this is, how this tool is applied.This way door of corruption/bribe is opened by doing undue favour to people.Other reason is increasing finanicial requirement bcz of living standard beyond d reach of common man.Our rulers,with strong determination can overcome d issue.