Sacking: Former AGPR’s petition dismissed

Tahir Mahmood had claimed he was being politically-victimised.

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a petition filed by a former accountant general of Pakistan revenue (AGPR) who had challenged his removal by the federal government.

Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi rejected a petition filed by Tahir Mahmood, who had challenged the government’s order to remove him from his post and send him on forced leave.

On December 18, 2013, the government had suspended Mahmood. The same IHC bench had temporary restored him and sought a reply from the government. On January 14, Mahmood was sent on forced leave and the government ordered an inquiry into his alleged misconduct.

Mahmood had contended that the government had removed him without any show-cause notice and that the Establishment Division had issued his termination order without providing any reasons. He had requested the court to declare his removal order illegal and restore him.  On Feb 14 the court had reserved the judgment after counsels from both the side had concluded their arguments.

Advocate SA Rehman, representing the government, said in his concluding argument that “there are serious corruption charges against Mehmood and an inquiry is under way”.

The counsel alleged that Mahmood was facing charges of receiving kickbacks before clearance of bills as well as pension payouts.

Mehmood denied the charges and said that he had been victimised for sending references to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against finance ministry officials for releasing Rs317 billion to oil marketing companies and funds for the constituency of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and against senior government officials for misusing public money.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2014.