Maladministration: SNGPL chief comes under FIA scrutiny

Rasheed Lone accused of misuse of authority and financial irregularities.

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a probe against Managing Director of Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines Limited (SNGPL) Abdul Rasheed Lone on various allegations, including misuse of authority and financial and administrative irregularities, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The Corporate Crime Circle of the FIA Punjab has sought relevant record from the parent company.

So far, the FIA has sent two questionnaires to Abdul Rasheed Lone and asked the company to provide relevant data by January 2, 2011.

FIA is also seeking details of payment of Rs100 million to LUMS as donation, appointment of Saulat Rasheed Lone as assistant engineer and expenses incurred during his foreign visits, re-appointment of Nadeem Shehryar on contract, purchases made by Khalid Waleed Shariq, General Manager (Transmission) during his tenure, disconnection and reconnection of gas to industrial consumer No 42100000278, who owed the company Rs160 million in dues.

According to another reminder sent on December 21 this year, FIA said that the investigation was being hampered because of non-provision of relevant record.

The federal agency said it was also seeking the record of re-appointment and granting of eight extensions in service to Zulifqar Hussain Jafery (engineering assistant) and Mazhar Iqbal Shamsi (engineer). According to FIA data, re-appointment and extensions in service were also granted to Muhammad Arif Latif (special assistant to MD), Rahim Din (PSO to MD), Muhammad Aslam (draftsman), Nafees Ahmed Mirza (deputy chief accountant), Ahmed Shafique (chief engineer), Muhammad Yousaf Tahseen (deputy chief audit officer), Abdul Qayyum Sabri (chief accountant) and Muhammad Ashraf (deputy chief billing officer).

FIA Punjab Director Zafar Ahmad Qureshi told The Express Tribune that two inquiries have been instituted and relevant record was being sought, adding that they had only received partial record in this regard.

Despite repeated attempts, Managing Director SNGPL Abdul Rasheed Lone was unavailable for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2010.