Director’s promotion triggers probe

An ad-hoc recruit to the post of Director of Training and Fundraising in the Rawalpindi District Red Crescent Committee was regularised in three months and elevated to the position of permanent director in a year, which did not even exist before his appointment.

The recruit’s salary which started from Rs25,000 rose to Rs105,000 in a matter of months. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) took notice and appointed the Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters as the Inquiry Officer to investigate the issue.

Nadeem Iqbal was appointed as the first ad hoc Director of Training and Fundraising on a salary of Rs25,000. Three months later, bypassing the authority of the Red Crescent Committee, which is responsible for running the affairs of Red Crescent Hospital, his employment was regularised and just a year later he was made permanent director, even though this post had not existed previously.

The salary of the said director, which started from Rs25,000, was first raised to Rs30,000, then Rs45,000, and then Rs105,000.

When a report on the issue was sent to the DC by the Red Crescent District Branch Secretary, the commissioner, who is also the Chairman of the Red Crescent Committee District Branch, appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters Dr Zunira as the Inquiry Officer to look into the matter.