Sindh government removes 480 corrupt officers, SHC told

Last week, high court gave three days to take action against officers, who had entered into plea bargain with NAB

KARACHI: The Sindh government confirmed on Tuesday that it has dispensed with the services of 480 officials who entered into a plea bargain with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in graft cases but were still enjoying their positions.

Submitting a declaration on oath, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) in his report, supported by a personal affidavit, that action had been taken against 480 officers who were reinstated on their posts after entering into plea bargains with the national anti-graft watchdog in corruption-related cases.

Headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, a two-judge bench was hearing a case relating to the reinstatement of Thatta's district accounts officer, Ghulam Mustafa Lund, after voluntarily returning millions of embezzled money.

Last week, the high court had given three days to the provincial government to take action against such officers, who had entered plea bargain with NAB and were reinstated on their posts but no departmental action was initiated against them. The chief secretary was directed to file his personal affidavit to the effect that action was taken against all such officers.

According to his report, 480 officers were performing their duties on different posts in different grades, ranging from grade-1 to grade-18, in the various departments of the provincial government.

The departments where these officers were working include the finance, police, education, health, food, social welfare, and wildlife and forest departments.



The report further stated that other departments include agriculture, supply and prices, public health engineering, services and general administration and local government departments.

Memon maintained that the action had been initiated in compliance with the order passed by the court on October 20. He said further inquiry will be conducted against each officer. He maintained that the court's order was complied with in letter and spirit.

On the other hand, the NAB authorities informed the court that these 480 corrupt officers had voluntarily returned as many as Rs16 billion under the voluntary return scheme of the watchdog.



The court was informed that under the law no government officer, who opts for plea bargain and voluntarily returns corrupt money, remains eligible to hold any public office anymore.

Reports of the chief secretary and NAB officials were taken on record and the hearing was adjourned till November 29.