Prisons chief seen as exceeding authority
IG Warraich accused of overstepping authority, Punjab government likely to intervene.
LAHORE:
The Punjab government is likely to initiate disciplinary proceeding against the prisons inspector general (IG) for over stepping his authority in transfers, postings and promotions of several officials, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Sources said the Home Department will soon submit a summary to the chief minister to initiate an action against IG Kokab Nadeem Warraich, under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006. Warraich is likely to be accused of misconduct and insubordination for his failure to comply with instructions of the competent authority (the home secretary).
Salik Jalal, a Prisons Department DIG, speaking on the behalf of IG Warraich denied any misconduct. He told The Express Tribune that all decisions regarding transfers and postings were taken after taking the competent authority in confidence. “There is no question of overstepping or abuse of authority in transfers and postings,” he concluded.
A senior Home Department official, who requested not to be mentioned by name, said that the government had taken serious notice of the unlawful transfer, posting and promotion orders issued by the IG. He said the orders were being withdrawn with immediate effect.
Another Home Department official said that the government was committed to a policy of merit and transparency in transfers, postings and promotions.
“These actions of the Prison IG intended to bulldoze decisions in the administrative areas. An IG’s authority in the administrative and financial affairs of the department is limited,” he said.
A Prisons Department official, seeking anonymity, said that the authority over transfers and postings had always remained a bone of contention between the IG and the home secretary, ever since Warraich was appointed IG in March 2009. He said that the violations had gone unnoticed for a while because the IG was backed by a senior politician, who beholden to Warraich on accounts of favours during his imprisonment.
According to the Home Department, Warraich unlawfully transferred and posted 19 DSPs (BS-17) and promoted two ASPs (BS-16) to the rank of DSPs in violation of the Rules of Business, Punjab Civil Services Act, 1974 and Punjab Prison Rules 2010.
Under the rules, the IG is the competent authority regarding transfers/postings of ASPs, the home secretary is the appointing authority for DSPs (BS-17) and SPs (BS-18), and the chief secretary is the competent authority for appointment of SSPs (BS-19). The chief minister is the appointing authority for DIGs (BS-20) and the IG (BS-21).
In June 1986, the Punjab government had delegated the powers of transferring and postings Prisons DSPs. This was in November 2008, withdrawn after reports of rampant favouritism and nepotism to IG. The Home Department then directed the Prisons IG to maintain the record of the BS-16 officials only. The IG was authorised to forward proposals to the home secretary regarding transfers, postings and promotions in the same scale.
The officers who benefited from the IG’s allegedly ‘incompetent’ actions are Zumarad Bano, Najam Iqbal Mirza, Malik Muhammad Feroz Kalyar, Mian Hafeezur Rehman, Riaz Ahmad Khan, Mian Zahid Mahmood, Noor Hassan Bhagela, Kishwar Naheed, Muhammad Sarwar Sumra, Muhammad Aamir Qureshi, Bashir Ahmad, Shabraiz Hussain, Sultan Ali, Khalid Bashir, Muhammad Tahir, Muhammad Younis, Ijaz Ahmed, Muhammad Yaqoob, Muhammad Azam Shaheen, Muhammad Arshad and Asghar Ali.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2010.
The Punjab government is likely to initiate disciplinary proceeding against the prisons inspector general (IG) for over stepping his authority in transfers, postings and promotions of several officials, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Sources said the Home Department will soon submit a summary to the chief minister to initiate an action against IG Kokab Nadeem Warraich, under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006. Warraich is likely to be accused of misconduct and insubordination for his failure to comply with instructions of the competent authority (the home secretary).
Salik Jalal, a Prisons Department DIG, speaking on the behalf of IG Warraich denied any misconduct. He told The Express Tribune that all decisions regarding transfers and postings were taken after taking the competent authority in confidence. “There is no question of overstepping or abuse of authority in transfers and postings,” he concluded.
A senior Home Department official, who requested not to be mentioned by name, said that the government had taken serious notice of the unlawful transfer, posting and promotion orders issued by the IG. He said the orders were being withdrawn with immediate effect.
Another Home Department official said that the government was committed to a policy of merit and transparency in transfers, postings and promotions.
“These actions of the Prison IG intended to bulldoze decisions in the administrative areas. An IG’s authority in the administrative and financial affairs of the department is limited,” he said.
A Prisons Department official, seeking anonymity, said that the authority over transfers and postings had always remained a bone of contention between the IG and the home secretary, ever since Warraich was appointed IG in March 2009. He said that the violations had gone unnoticed for a while because the IG was backed by a senior politician, who beholden to Warraich on accounts of favours during his imprisonment.
According to the Home Department, Warraich unlawfully transferred and posted 19 DSPs (BS-17) and promoted two ASPs (BS-16) to the rank of DSPs in violation of the Rules of Business, Punjab Civil Services Act, 1974 and Punjab Prison Rules 2010.
Under the rules, the IG is the competent authority regarding transfers/postings of ASPs, the home secretary is the appointing authority for DSPs (BS-17) and SPs (BS-18), and the chief secretary is the competent authority for appointment of SSPs (BS-19). The chief minister is the appointing authority for DIGs (BS-20) and the IG (BS-21).
In June 1986, the Punjab government had delegated the powers of transferring and postings Prisons DSPs. This was in November 2008, withdrawn after reports of rampant favouritism and nepotism to IG. The Home Department then directed the Prisons IG to maintain the record of the BS-16 officials only. The IG was authorised to forward proposals to the home secretary regarding transfers, postings and promotions in the same scale.
The officers who benefited from the IG’s allegedly ‘incompetent’ actions are Zumarad Bano, Najam Iqbal Mirza, Malik Muhammad Feroz Kalyar, Mian Hafeezur Rehman, Riaz Ahmad Khan, Mian Zahid Mahmood, Noor Hassan Bhagela, Kishwar Naheed, Muhammad Sarwar Sumra, Muhammad Aamir Qureshi, Bashir Ahmad, Shabraiz Hussain, Sultan Ali, Khalid Bashir, Muhammad Tahir, Muhammad Younis, Ijaz Ahmed, Muhammad Yaqoob, Muhammad Azam Shaheen, Muhammad Arshad and Asghar Ali.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2010.