Coveted post: Controversial FDE chief stages comeback
With stay order in hand, Riaz returns to office she has been ousted from four times.
“It is simple, the CADD secretary has no right to remove me,” Riaz said. PHOTO: fde.gov.pk
ISLAMABAD:
In a scene more befitting a summer movie that a boring government office, the ousted Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) chief, accompanied by three to four people, returned to office on Monday after obtaining a stay order from a local court against her transfer.
The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) notification had removed FDE Director-General Shahnaz Riaz after an inquiry found her guilty of misusing power and funds.
Soon after her transfer orders were issued in February, Riaz had approached the Supreme Court, but was left red-faced as the apex court turned down her petition and slapped a Rs10,000 fine on her for filing a frivolous case. The apex court reportedly asked her to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) instead. Riaz then approached the IHC, which on May 9 suspended her transfer order.
When Riaz, accompanied by Non-teaching Staff Association President Sardar Siddique and some other officials, reached the FDE office on Monday, the FDE management initially refused to give her the keys to the DG’s office, after which Riaz’s supporters began shouting slogans against the CADD officials.
Later, Riaz and her companions approached FDE Administration Director Ashraf Nadeem, who spoke with CADD Education Joint Secretary Rafique Tahir, who in turn asked Nadeem to hand over the keys.
Soon after Riaz entered the DG’s office, FDE staff made a beeline to congratulate her.
“It is simple, the CADD secretary has no right to remove me,” she said.
Nadeem refused to comment on the issue, while Tahir said that after the court order, she should have consulted CADD officials instead of storming into the office.
Tahir, who is also the CADD spokesperson, said, “It is embarrassing and painful to see such a senior official resorting to extreme steps.”
According to a source in CADD, Riaz did not share complete information with the IHC while filing her petition regarding her removal.
“We are contemplating to go for an intra-court appeal against the IHC decision because the court was not aware of the whole picture,” said the official.
Past episodes
The high drama of removing and appointing DGs at the FDE started on August 31, 2009, with the removal of ex-DG Atiqur Rehman.
Rehman was replaced by Islamabad College for Girls Principal Shaista Pirzada on September 1, 2009, but she was removed after just four months.
On January 9, 2010, Riaz took charge, but had to leave within a month. She was replaced by Dr Shaheen Khan, then-chairperson of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, for all of one month. On March 11, 2010, Riaz got the seat back for two weeks, before she was again replaced by Khan, who served till November 14, 2010.
Khan was replaced by senior educationist Aurangzeb Rehman on November 15, 2010, but he was removed within two months.
Once again, the charge was given to the former FBISE chief, who remained on the seat till April 5, 2011. Subsequently, Khan was replaced by Chaudhry Muhammad Nazir in April 2011, just to leave the office after one month. He was replaced by Atif Kayani on May 23, who in turn was kicked out on apex court orders on May 19, 2012.
In the meanwhile, the apex court adjudicated a case in Riaz’s favour, after she had approached the court against her removal.
Meanwhile, staff at the FDE expressed frustration and annoyance at the theatrics that have been taking place for the last five years.
An official told The Express Tribune that on Friday, Tahir, who is also acting DG of the FDE, had a comprehensive meeting with them about a future plan to settle issues affecting FDE affairs.
“But, today’s drama was a return to fish market scenes at the FDE, where it seems everyone can do whatever they want,” the officer said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2014.
In a scene more befitting a summer movie that a boring government office, the ousted Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) chief, accompanied by three to four people, returned to office on Monday after obtaining a stay order from a local court against her transfer.
The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) notification had removed FDE Director-General Shahnaz Riaz after an inquiry found her guilty of misusing power and funds.
Soon after her transfer orders were issued in February, Riaz had approached the Supreme Court, but was left red-faced as the apex court turned down her petition and slapped a Rs10,000 fine on her for filing a frivolous case. The apex court reportedly asked her to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) instead. Riaz then approached the IHC, which on May 9 suspended her transfer order.
When Riaz, accompanied by Non-teaching Staff Association President Sardar Siddique and some other officials, reached the FDE office on Monday, the FDE management initially refused to give her the keys to the DG’s office, after which Riaz’s supporters began shouting slogans against the CADD officials.
Later, Riaz and her companions approached FDE Administration Director Ashraf Nadeem, who spoke with CADD Education Joint Secretary Rafique Tahir, who in turn asked Nadeem to hand over the keys.
Soon after Riaz entered the DG’s office, FDE staff made a beeline to congratulate her.
“It is simple, the CADD secretary has no right to remove me,” she said.
Nadeem refused to comment on the issue, while Tahir said that after the court order, she should have consulted CADD officials instead of storming into the office.
Tahir, who is also the CADD spokesperson, said, “It is embarrassing and painful to see such a senior official resorting to extreme steps.”
According to a source in CADD, Riaz did not share complete information with the IHC while filing her petition regarding her removal.
“We are contemplating to go for an intra-court appeal against the IHC decision because the court was not aware of the whole picture,” said the official.
Past episodes
The high drama of removing and appointing DGs at the FDE started on August 31, 2009, with the removal of ex-DG Atiqur Rehman.
Rehman was replaced by Islamabad College for Girls Principal Shaista Pirzada on September 1, 2009, but she was removed after just four months.
On January 9, 2010, Riaz took charge, but had to leave within a month. She was replaced by Dr Shaheen Khan, then-chairperson of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, for all of one month. On March 11, 2010, Riaz got the seat back for two weeks, before she was again replaced by Khan, who served till November 14, 2010.
Khan was replaced by senior educationist Aurangzeb Rehman on November 15, 2010, but he was removed within two months.
Once again, the charge was given to the former FBISE chief, who remained on the seat till April 5, 2011. Subsequently, Khan was replaced by Chaudhry Muhammad Nazir in April 2011, just to leave the office after one month. He was replaced by Atif Kayani on May 23, who in turn was kicked out on apex court orders on May 19, 2012.
In the meanwhile, the apex court adjudicated a case in Riaz’s favour, after she had approached the court against her removal.
Meanwhile, staff at the FDE expressed frustration and annoyance at the theatrics that have been taking place for the last five years.
An official told The Express Tribune that on Friday, Tahir, who is also acting DG of the FDE, had a comprehensive meeting with them about a future plan to settle issues affecting FDE affairs.
“But, today’s drama was a return to fish market scenes at the FDE, where it seems everyone can do whatever they want,” the officer said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2014.