SC annuls tribunal’s decision to restore ‘ghost’ employee

136 teachers were appointed as ghost employees in 1993 in Shaheed Benazirabad

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) annulled the service tribunal's decision to restore the services of Muhammad Usman Jokhio on Monday in the case pertaining to the alleged hiring of ghost teachers at schools in Shaheed Benazirabad.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mazhar Alam heard the petition moved by the Sindh government against the restoration of Jokhio's service at SC's Karachi Registry.

The court expressed its dissatisfaction over the lack of documents and preparation of the government's lawyer.

That's how ghost employees are hired, remarked the court, adding that their salaries are divided among conniving officials. It is surprising that cheques were issued by the education department for school teachers with no bank accounts, the court observed.

Justice Ahmed said that courts are not there to make appointments in government organisations.

PIA fires 200 ghost employees

This how political hiring without ads is done, said the court, accepting the provincial government's appeal against the service tribunal's decision.

The petition maintained that 136 teachers, including Jokhio, were appointed as ghost employees in 1993. Their appointments were fake and made on political grounds.

Suspects flee

The same bench rejected the pre-arrest bail pleas of three suspects in the case pertaining to embezzlement in government funds in Sujawal district. The suspects, Ali Saleem, Imtiaz Ahmed and Bashir Ahmed, managed to flee from the court's premises after their bail plea was rejected.

During the hearing, Justice Ahmed remarked that development funds are generated with a lot of difficulties but the nexus of corrupt government officials misappropriate and steal them.

"Citizens are deprived of water, healthcare, education and other facilities because of corrupt elements," he said. "How can we complete development work when government officers loot everything," added Justice Ahmed.

He remarked that contractors had themselves admitted that Sujawal district contracts were fake. "These government officers rob everything," said Justice Ahmed.

SC dismisses 85 ghost teachers’ appeals

The counsel for the accused contended that his clients feared arrests so pre-arrest bails should be granted. He maintained that the NAB was investigating the allegation of corruption in Sujawal development funds. The lawyer argued that the accused had no connection with the corruption so their bail pleas should be approved.

"Go to jail or defend yourself in the relevant court," remarked the court.

The suspects fled from the court after their bail pleas were rejected. Despite the issuance of cause list two days prior, NAB representatives did not appear before the court.

Anti-encroachment drive

SC issued notices to the Sindh attorney-general, advocate-general, chief secretary, Rangers director-general, interior ministry, Sindh IGP, Defence Housing Authority and chiefs of cantonment boards for May 9 regarding the anti-encroachment operation in Karachi. The hearing of the plea pertaining to the restoration of Karachi to its original glory has been scheduled for May 9. The court summoned replies from the above mentioned departments and officials and sought reports from Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the KMC.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2019.