Accountability: Govt commences housecleaning against ‘corrupt’ recruits
A letter was issued by the K-P CM directing all govt depts to make a list of employees with political affiliations.
A letter issued by K-P Chief Minister directed all government departments to identify their irregular employees. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Higher Education Department (HED) has prepared a list of all its employees who have been inducted through political influence.
The move comes following a letter issued by K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak directing all government departments to identify their irregular employees, including those hired during the previous government because of their political affiliations.
Senior officials confirmed the issuance of the letter to The Express Tribune, but refused to share the document.
“We were told to sideline all those who are considered a burden on the department and have prepared a list of six to seven employees. The list will soon be sent to the establishment department,” said a senior HED official, requesting anonymity.
“What I am supposed to do is to forward the list, but I am sure even the establishment department will refuse to accept it.”
“Can we dismiss someone? No, never. You do it and they (the employee) will approach the court and obtain a stay order against the directives of the department head,” claimed the official. He questioned as to how they were supposed to sideline ‘corrupt officials.’
Officials alleged the mess has been created in the Workers Welfare Board where around 50 departments have been set up and majority of the staffers hired without proper tests or interviews. The staffers are also accused of possessing forged documents. “They were inducted because of political affiliations,” shared one source.
“I don’t know how the list should be prepared. There is not one secretary who has not had a political appointment,” said another official privy to the inquiry being conducted. He said every minister brings his own team ‘in the so-called larger public interest.’
Mushtaq Ghani, advisor to the chief minister on higher education, said the ministry has banned fresh appointments in universities. Unless a one-year recruitment record is not produced, no one new will be hired, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2013.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Higher Education Department (HED) has prepared a list of all its employees who have been inducted through political influence.
The move comes following a letter issued by K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak directing all government departments to identify their irregular employees, including those hired during the previous government because of their political affiliations.
Senior officials confirmed the issuance of the letter to The Express Tribune, but refused to share the document.
“We were told to sideline all those who are considered a burden on the department and have prepared a list of six to seven employees. The list will soon be sent to the establishment department,” said a senior HED official, requesting anonymity.
“What I am supposed to do is to forward the list, but I am sure even the establishment department will refuse to accept it.”
“Can we dismiss someone? No, never. You do it and they (the employee) will approach the court and obtain a stay order against the directives of the department head,” claimed the official. He questioned as to how they were supposed to sideline ‘corrupt officials.’
Officials alleged the mess has been created in the Workers Welfare Board where around 50 departments have been set up and majority of the staffers hired without proper tests or interviews. The staffers are also accused of possessing forged documents. “They were inducted because of political affiliations,” shared one source.
“I don’t know how the list should be prepared. There is not one secretary who has not had a political appointment,” said another official privy to the inquiry being conducted. He said every minister brings his own team ‘in the so-called larger public interest.’
Mushtaq Ghani, advisor to the chief minister on higher education, said the ministry has banned fresh appointments in universities. Unless a one-year recruitment record is not produced, no one new will be hired, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2013.