WASA managing director removed from post

Sources in dept claim Zahid Ahmed Khemtio was under pressure to vacate the seat

HYDERABAD:

Culminating the tug of war between the DirectorGeneral of Hyderabad Development Authority and Managing Director (MD) of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), the latter has been removed from his post. The Sindh government has notified the transfer of MD WASA Zahid Ahmed Khemtio.

On Saturday, a SHDA Superintending Engineer Anjum Saeed, was assigned the additional charge of MD WASA. "The MD WASA used to feel that his wings were clipped because the DG had taken into his hands the financial powers of WASA," an official of WASA told The express tribune who has requested to keep his name anonymous.

He said that around a week ago the two officers had an argument. According to the official, the MD was not attending his office for around a week and that he himself wanted to quit the post. Khemtio and the DG could not be contacted to tell their version of the story.

Khemtio also wanted to quit the post of MD in July last year amid a rain emergency when he was working under Ghulam Muhammad Qaimkhani as DG HDA, said the WASA official. The sources said he was not getting along well with Qaimkhani. Khemtio had confirmed to The Express Tribune that he was seeking his transfer, and did not divulge the reason.

"I have requested for my transfer. Kindly bring your MD," Khemtio had written in a WhatsApp message to the DG Qaimkhani. The anonymous WASA official said that Khemtio stirred controversy in January this year with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)-Pakistan when his social media post drew flak from the party.

The anonymous official of WASA, said the DG Muhammad Muhamamd Sohail Khan, who was transferred from Malir Development Authority to HDA last year, has kept in his hands the release of funds. "Even the MD is supposed to submit a request for funds to the DG and an official who has been brought from outside by the DG," the official claimed.

The local officials of HDA and WASA claim that at least three outsiders of HDA have been brought on important positions in the Authority.

One of them, Waseem Khan, has at least three charges, according to them. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is reportedly investigating four different cases against the authority. Three officials have been issued notices for a probe by the Anti Corruption Establishment recently.

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