In Sindh, anti-corruption dept arrests ‘ghost employee’

KARACHI: An anti-corruption department team conducted a raid at Government Degree College in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on Thursday and arrested, in the presence of a magistrate, a “ghost government employee,” identified as Nadir Khan, for “occupying two positions at a time,” according to East Zone Anti-Corruption deputy director Zamir Abbasi.

During the raid, anti-corruption department officials took biometric attendance records and salary slips into custody. Another salary slip issued by a local government office in the limits of Liaquatabad’s union council (UC) 40 was also seized from the possession of the arrested officer.

According to department officials, Khan used to pay 50 per cent of his salary to the UC 40 secretary, Salman, in exchange for marking his attendance.  Later, an anti-corruption department team arrested Salman as well.

Salman reportedly used to mark fake attendance for ‘ghost’ government employees.

As many as eight more ;ghost employees,’ occupying two positions at a time have been identified so far during the investigation carried out by the anti-corruption department. Indicating that the scope of the investigation could be expanded, anti-corruption officials said that ghost employees caused a loss to the national exchequer.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2020.