Allegations of nepotism: G-B govt shows door to illegal appointees

Fate of 16 others to be decided soon.


Shabbir Mir January 29, 2014
Fate of 16 others to be decided soon.

GILGIT: At least 69 employees from Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) Excise and Taxation Department have been sacked while many are awaiting their fate as the regional government expedites a drive against corruption.

“This is part of the overall drive launched on the instructions of the chief secretary against corruption and illegal practices in regional government institutions,” a district administration official said on Tuesday.

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A section officer in the department, who allegedly bypassed rules to make such appointments, was also suspended from duty and will face an inquiry committee that will recommend a final decision.

The action was taken after the G-B Chief Minister’s (CM) Inspection Commission, on directives from Chief Secretary Younus Dagha, launched an inquiry into the alleged illegal appointments in government departments and submitted its recommendations.

The sacked employees include inspectors, sub-inspectors and clerks who had reportedly been appointed over the past two years against protocol. The official revealed that action was likely against 16 others allegedly appointed illegally in the department.

A similar inquiry was conducted recently that suggested that at least 200 teachers had also been appointed illegally in Ghizer Valley, while appointment records in Astor Valley are currently being investigated.

“This is not over by any means. The process will continue as long as complaints surface,” the official said about the inquiry which was launched last year after complaints of corruption flooded the chief secretary’s office.

Last week, two senior officials from G-B’s education department were forcibly retired and will not be receiving any retirement benefits after an inquiry proved them guilty. “Action was taken in light of recommendations submitted by the CM’s Inspection Commission recently,” said Burhan Afandi, a senior official at the Excise and Taxation Department.

CM Mehdi Shah also appreciated Chief Secretary Dagha for his efforts. “I support the good work that he’s doing,” Mehdi Shah told reporters at his office recently. “Dagha initiated the anti-corruption drive on my instructions.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2014.

COMMENTS (3)

TAQDIR ALI KHAN ADVOCATE | 10 years ago | Reply

WELL DONE SHABBIR MIR

Really we appreciated the step taken by the CS and CM as well about the illegal appointments which further generate corruption by these appointees who come from back door without following merit. What about the appointment of Judges in the apex court. Is the trend of sitting ministers and members of GB council should become judges although there are many people from GB who are doing their practice in other provinces of Pakistan, but these potential candidates are being ignored while making and or initiating summary for the appointment of judges in the apex court, is this justification?

Last year one sitting Law Minister himself generated summary of judges and showed his own candidacy and succeeded to get himself appoint as judge in the Chief Court, which unjust and uncalled for. Unless this trend is discouraged corruption would not be end in our beloved GB and the innocent people of GB would not get justice from the apex court. It is learned from the local newspaper that some of members of GB assembly again actively evolved a campaign to being their near and dears to the highest judiciary by using all means and channels. This trend should must be discouraged and members of GB assembly should not be considered even their names should not be included in the ensuing summary to be generated by the administration.

Ishtiaq Ahmed Yaad | 10 years ago | Reply We highly appreciate and acknowledge such bold and necessary steps taken by Mr. Younus Dagha Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan (GB) in the best interest of people of this region. We are also thankful to Chief Minister GB Syed Mehdi Shah who encourages CS GB to eradicate corruption and make sure good governance. We need to understand the nature of good governance and undertake it in true letter and spirit. According to experts good governance has major five components including Legitimacy, Meritocracy, Transparency, Accountability and Reward & Punishment mechanism etc. We have to keep it in our mind that without having good governance at all levels the dream of quality education, standardized health care system, strong agriculture, livestock, fishers system, proper water and sanitation system, sophisticated infrastructure, modern telecommunication, flourished tourism & mineral industries and above all sustainable peace and social harmony cannot be come true in GB.
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