11 senior KWSB officials 'patronising illegal hydrants'

ACE submits report, requests cases be registered against officials

KARACHI: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has written to the authorities seeking permission to register cases against 11 senior officials of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) for patronising illegal hydrants in the city.

In a report, submitted to the ACE chairperson, the officials said, "The illegal hydrants are working in Karachi in connivance with officials of the KWSB authorities”. It accused them of stealing government water and selling the same at exorbitant rates, thereby misappropriating hundreds of thousands of rupees in connivance with the tanker mafia for last 15 years."

The areas where this business flourishes include Mansehra Colony, Future Colony, Shah Faisal Colony, NIPA Chowrangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Teen Hatti and Safoora.

The four-page report has been finalised by the officials after visiting the areas. They have now recommended placing the matter before the Anti-Corruption Committee, known as the ACC-I, which, under the supervision of the chief secretary, gives its nod to lodge cases and initiate necessary action. East Anti-Corruption Assistant Director Naveed Sikandar Junejo in his report said, "Prima facie case of illegal selling of government water in connivance with officials of KWSB is made out. The matter is now placed before ACC-I, seeking orders to register a case against the officials."



Pinpointing the names of officials, the report said KWSB Executive Engineer Works Tabish Raza Hasnain holds the responsibility of overall function of hydrant services and tankers operations, controls hydrant operations and safeguards the interest of the KWSB functions, but he failed to perform his official duty and is involved in running oversized connections at illegal hydrants. "He works with malafide intentions and ulterior motives in connivance with contractors and the mafia, shutting his eyes and thus causing heavy loss to government exchequer," read the report.

It also mentioned the name of another officer, Imran Siddiqui and leveled the same allegations of patronising illegal hydrants by giving connections in the area against him. Among others officer who work hand in glove with the hydrant mafia include assistant executive engineer Khalid Farooqui posted in Landhi I and II, sub engineer Shaikh Adnan Ahmed posted in Landhi I, sub engineer M Sumair Khan posted in Landhi II, assistant executive engineer Rashid Ayoob posted at NIPA Gulshan-e-Iqbal, sub engineer Zaheer Khan posted at NIPA Gulshan-e-Iqbal and sub engineer Syed Jalal Hyder Zaidi posted at NIPA Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Junejo said that he had visited the area and submitted the report, now it is up to the government to take action.



Another official in ACE said that the matter is now pending before its chairperson and it will be taken up during the upcoming ACC-I meeting. "We can't lodge an FIR against anyone until or unless the meeting gives approval," he said, adding that a police official of SSP rank has also been running illegal hydrants in the city and this matter has been conveyed to the authorities.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday directed the KWSB’s managing director to furnish his personal affidavit swearing that no more illegal hydrants will be allowed to be set up and operate in the metropolis. "Illegal water hydrants will not be tolerated in the city," observed the CJP while hearing a suo motu case regarding operations of illegal and unauthorised water hydrants in the city.

KWSB MD Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi informed the SC that he has taken action against 187 illegal hydrants and dismantled them with the help of the Rangers and police. He added that 2,130 illegal connections from the main water supply pipelines had also been severed.

Zaidi added that cases against 137 suspects were also registered at relevant police stations, including 44 cases at the Saeedabad police station and 37, 27 and four cases at Manghopir, Pirabad and SITE-A police stations respectively.

Justice Nisar had told Zaidi "It is your duty to stop the illegal hydrants." He also directed Zaidi to furnish a personal affidavit ensuring that no officers were involved in illegal hydrants and if they were found to be involved, Zaidi would be held responsible.