CDA removes 107 officers over corruption

Officials accused of influencing inquiries, forming 'internal mafias' removed from posts

ISLAMABAD:

In a move to curb corruption and administrative misconduct, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has removed 107 officers ranging from grade 19 to 16 from their posts amid allegations of graft, misuse of authority, and attempts to influence departmental inquiries.

According to reliable sources, these officers had long been under scrutiny for alleged involvement in corruption scandals and for manipulating ongoing inquiries in collaboration with inquiry officers to avoid accountability.

Some were accused of giving and receiving "clean chits" through mutual settlements.

Sources told The Express Tribune that CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa had, three months ago, secretly directed the Member Administration to compile a list — strictly on merit — of officers facing inquiries or those with tainted reputations.

The chairman reportedly warned that any bias, favoritism, or victimisation in preparing the list would result in disciplinary action against the concerned officials.

Following these instructions, the Member Administration completed the process within three months. Chairman Randhawa later named the initiative "Operation Clean-Up," pledging to purge the CDA of "black sheep" at any cost.

The chairman further instructed that additional corrupt officers and officials would also be removed from key posts in the coming days.

Sources said that for years, many of these senior officers had occupied important positions, forming a powerful internal network that allegedly obstructed routine public matters to extract personal gains through their subordinates.

Randhawa has directed that if any officer or official is found creating unnecessary hurdles in citizens' legitimate work in the future, they will not only be removed from office but also dismissed from service without retirement benefits.

The CDA's legal wing has been tasked to actively pursue all related cases in court, with plans to strengthen it further by hiring competent lawyers. Randhawa said that those found guilty would be made an example to deter corruption within the authority.

Among the 107 officers removed are several high-ranking officials, including Grade-19 Director Law Abdul Hakeem Berrero, Director of Training Academy and Labour Director Mumtaz Ali Sher, Director Enforcement and Admin HR Law, Deputy Director General (Admin HR) of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad Kashif Shah, Director Civil Rana Tariq Mahmood (who also served as Deputy DG Metro Bus), and Additional Director E&DM and Operations Zafar Iqbal, who held additional charge of the 1122 Emergency Services.