Verdict reserved on plea against restoration of ‘tainted’ officials

How can officials who have confessed to committing corruption be restored on their posts, asks court

The Sindh High Court reserved the verdict on Monday on the plea challenging the restoration of officials, who are facing inquiries by the National Accountability, on their posts.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Nadeem Akhtar and Justice Adnanul Karim, reserved the verdict on the Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan’s plea. During the hearing, the Sindh chief secretary submitted a report pertaining to officials facing inquiries by national graft watchdog.

The court inquired about the number of officials who entered into a plea bargain and are willing to pay back the money voluntarily. The bench also sought a list of all officials accused in corruption cases and still serving on government posts.

The services department secretary informed the court that they have submitted the list of such officials. Why are officials accused in criminal cases not suspended from their posts during the trial, remarked the bench. The services department secretary maintained that the case pertaining to officials who have paid money back voluntarily is also under trial in the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court had remarked that such officials cannot stay on official posts. What progress have you made in four years,” asked Justice Akhter, addressing the services department secretary.

The secretary replied that disciplinary action was taken against officials booked in corruption cases and some of them were restored on their posts while others were terminated. How can officials who have confessed to committing corruption be restored on their posts, asked Justice Karim. To this, the services secretary replied that the apex court had directed them not to penalise officials who had committed corruption of less than Rs2.5 million too strictly. The petitioner’s counsel contended that many officials who committed corruption of less than Rs2.5m are still serving on their posts.

“The court will issue the verdict in light of Supreme Court’s orders,” remarked Justice Akhtar. The bench reserved the verdict. Keamari district Meanwhile, a bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar issued notices to parties over the MQM-P’s plea challenging the notification issued for the establishment of Keamari District Municipal Corporation (DMC) and new police stations for the seventh district.

The petitioner has maintained in the plea that the establishment of Keamari DMC, and new police stations there, is illegal. The petitioner contends that the laws referred to in the notification for the establishment of police stations are also invalid. Maintaining that another plea against the establishment of Keamari DMC is under trial in SHC, the petitioner moved the court to nullify the notification issued for establishment of the DMC and new police stations. A notification would be issued when new districts are established, remarked the court.

The bench issued notices to the parties and directed to combine the plea with other similar pleas pertaining to the establishment of new districts. Bail granted Separately, the high court accepted the pre-arrest bail plea of accused Lala Fazalur Rehman in the case pertaining to illegal appointments in the local government department. The petitioner’s counsel maintained that the NAB has filed a reference against Rehman on the basis of malafide intent. The court accepted Rehman’s prearrest bail plea against the surety of Rs300,000. The court directed Rehman to pay the amount for surety and issued notices to the NAB prosecutor and other relevant officials.