Fake appointments: 21 SEPCO officials suspended, removed

Action taken after inquiry into matter

SUKKUR: Twenty-one officials of the Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) were suspended and removed from service on charges of fake appointments made during the last three years in the utility.

An inquiry was held into the matter, after which action was taken against the 21 officials found involved in the scam.

The inquiry committee looked into fake appointments of the lower cadre staff, including upper division clerks, lower division clerks and linemen made during the last three years. The inquiry was ordered by the Sepco, Sukkur, chief executive officer (CEO) Dilawar Hasnain Memon. The inquiry committee submitted its report to the CEO on Wednesday, after which action was taken against the officials found responsible for the fake appointments and corruption.

Those suspended included Saifuddin Memon, the deputy manager of Sukkur, Abdul Ghaffar Shaikh, the deputy manager of Shikarpur, Nisar Gadhi, the deputy manager of Naushero Feroz, and others, including Tajamul Baig, Nasrullah Ansari, Rafiq Shah and Mujtaba Memon. Some of the officials have been removed from service, including two accountants, but their names were not disclosed.

Kareem Bux Soomro, the personal staff officer of the CEO, told The Express Tribune that the 21 officials were found guilty of making appointments in violation of the rules. Besides, some of them were found involved in massive corruption, he said. According to him, the CEO has warned all the officials of Sepco of drastic action if they are found involved in corruption. He has advised the officials to discharge their duties with utmost honesty and dedication.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2017.