Corruption charges: WASA director among three arrested
Employees observe strike, demand immediate release of ‘innocent’ officer.
FAISALABAD:
Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) employees on Wednesday observed a strike to protest the arrest of three men, including a Wasa director, on charges of corruption.
They locked their offices and announced a strike till the officers were released. They also closed down all disposal stations in the city.
The protesters gathered at Jail Road and blocked it for several hours. They claimed that the director was an honest officer and that the contractor, the complainant, had made allegations against him “to avenge personal enmity”.
Later, the protesters marched toward Allied Mor and blocked Sargodha Road by placing blockades.
They chanted slogans against the police and demanded immediate release of the director. They later dispersed after a police officials assured them that the case was being investigated.
Earlier in the day, an Anti Corruption Establishment team arrested three men, including Water and Sanitation Agency Director (Construction) Ghulam Ali. It said they were caught red handed for receiving a bribe from Umar Farooq, a Wasa contractor and also the complainant in the case.
Farooq had alleged that the director had taken a Rs40,000 bribe from him and was demanding Rs50,000 more for the clearance of his outstanding bills.
He said that Yousuf Masih, a former Water and Sanitation Agency administration officer, who was now working as the director’s personal staff officer, and one Bashir Ahmad were also involved in the corruption.
An Anti Corruption Establishment team, supervised by Circle Officer Faisal Gill and Judicial Magistrate Faheem Ahmad Shah, raided the director’s office on Wednesday, after corresponding the time with the complainant and arrested the accused.
They were sent to the Civil Lines police station. Police said investigations in the case have been started.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2012.
Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) employees on Wednesday observed a strike to protest the arrest of three men, including a Wasa director, on charges of corruption.
They locked their offices and announced a strike till the officers were released. They also closed down all disposal stations in the city.
The protesters gathered at Jail Road and blocked it for several hours. They claimed that the director was an honest officer and that the contractor, the complainant, had made allegations against him “to avenge personal enmity”.
Later, the protesters marched toward Allied Mor and blocked Sargodha Road by placing blockades.
They chanted slogans against the police and demanded immediate release of the director. They later dispersed after a police officials assured them that the case was being investigated.
Earlier in the day, an Anti Corruption Establishment team arrested three men, including Water and Sanitation Agency Director (Construction) Ghulam Ali. It said they were caught red handed for receiving a bribe from Umar Farooq, a Wasa contractor and also the complainant in the case.
Farooq had alleged that the director had taken a Rs40,000 bribe from him and was demanding Rs50,000 more for the clearance of his outstanding bills.
He said that Yousuf Masih, a former Water and Sanitation Agency administration officer, who was now working as the director’s personal staff officer, and one Bashir Ahmad were also involved in the corruption.
An Anti Corruption Establishment team, supervised by Circle Officer Faisal Gill and Judicial Magistrate Faheem Ahmad Shah, raided the director’s office on Wednesday, after corresponding the time with the complainant and arrested the accused.
They were sent to the Civil Lines police station. Police said investigations in the case have been started.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2012.