SC to probe hiring of 50 govt employees from one family

The apex court will take up the case for hearing today

SUKKUR: Authorities sprang into action and promised inquiry on Tuesday, a day after it was reported that more than four dozen members of a family have been appointed without interviews or tests, on different posts at Civil hospital and the district health office in Ghotki.

Taking notice of the incident the Supreme Court has promised to order an inquiry into the case and will take up the case for hearing today (Wednesday).

The matter surfaced when a man filed a petition complaining provincial health department had recruited some 48 cousins in the Ghotki district of Sindh province.

“Since 2008 till recently more than four dozen members of Chadhar family have been appointed by the authorities,” complainant Farman Ali Pitafi, a health department employee, told AFP, adding they were all cousins.

He said many of the family members were appointed in subordinate grades but quickly promoted.

Some of the employees of the health department including Pitfai had tried to bring the matter into the notice of the provincial authorities and written to the Sindh chief minister and governor but to no avail.

The petitioners claimed that the Chadhar community men were influential and even the elected representatives were reluctant to take up this massive irregularity with the concerned department.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also announced an inquiry into the matter. Sindh Secretary Health Dr Usman Chachar also took notice of the matter and appointed his additional secretary to probe the matter and submit a report.

The provincial health minister Sikandar Ali Mandhro said he was unaware of the matter but would look into it.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP)

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2016.