Crackdown on corruption: Ministry serves notice to chief inspector

Transfers two other explosives dept officials after inquiry report indicates massive corruption.

ISLAMABAD: Following reports of corruption in the Department of Explosives (DoE), the Ministry of Industries (MoI) has issued a show cause notice to one of its top officials and transferred two others.

Sources told the Express Investigation Cell (EIC) that after an inquiry report indicated massive corruption in DoE, the ministry issued a show cause notice to the department’s chief inspector Hussain Channa.

The ministry also transferred section officer Qutabuddin and joint secretary Irshad Khokhar, both of whom dealt registering third parties for inspecting compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stations.

They have been replaced by Gohar Khan Khattak and Yasin Abbasi, respectively.

Initial investigations confirmed Khokhar and Qutabuddin connived with Channa and then secretary Aziz Bilour in registering fake third parties for inspecting CNG/LPG pumps.

According to the notice served on the DoE chief inspector, the department “disposed 16 applications contrary to the rules for the registration of third parties for inspecting CNG/LPG stations.” The notice also speaks of gross violations of safety rules, while issuing licences to 19 other parties for inspection.

As many as 35 parties had applied for registration for inspecting CNG/LPG stations. The department issued 11 licences in violation of rules in the first phase and eight in the second, thereby making the entire process dubious.

The inquiry also hinted at corruption in the department beyond Channa’s tenure as chief inspector. The MoI is also considering reviewing licences issued to different third parties during Haroon Rehman’s tenure.

According to sources, DoE registered three firms, namely al Jadeed, Petrosin and Global Pakistan, during Rehman’s tenure. At least two of these firms did not have the infrastructure and expertise required for inspecting other firms and recommending the issuance of licences for them.

Rehman took over as DoE chief inspector in October 2009. Following reports of corruption, however, he was sent on forced unpaid leave in September 2010.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2012.