LESCO registers case against ex-chief executive officer

Eng Saleem Akhtar is accused of refusing to relieve his charge despite his retirement.

LAHORE:

The management of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has filed a case against several officers, including former chief executive officer (CEO) Engineer Salim Akhtar and the then company secretary for not relieving the charge despite retirement and entering the Lesco headquarters escorted by private armed guards.

According to a departmental inquiry and other documents received through the Intelligence Department of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), Lesco’s former CEO Eng Salim Akhtar retired on 30 September 2011 after completing his term. However, he managed to get a notification through the Lesco Board of Directors for extension of his employment.

The next day he entered the Lesco headquarters escorted by eight armed guards which has been proved by CCTV footage. Eng Saleem “occupied” the office for several days after that.

The inquiry says that Eng Saleem did not let the new CEO appointed by Pepco, Engineer Sharafat Siyyal, take the charge. After days of tension, the ministry of water and power intervened to make Eng Sharafat Siyal take the charge as per the law.

According to sources, the Human Resource head of Lesco has filed a case through the Capital City Police Officer Lahore Ahmed Raza Tahir in the Civil Lines police station Lahore.  Legal wizards of the power sector say that a departmental inquiry against the government employees can be held up to one year of the date of their retirement.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th,  2011.