Unfair promotions: Political nepotism proves bad business for SEPCO
According to a seniority list, several junior officers were given undeserved promotions.
The source also said that Old Sukkur sub-division officer Israr Bachkani is also enjoying support of the same politician because during his posting as SDO Salehpat, he always ensured uninterrupted power supply to the tube wells of that politician. PHOTO: FILE
SUKKUR:
Ignoring the standing orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, many senior officers have been sidelined to promote junior officers to higher posts in Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco).
Since its establishment, Sepco has been running on adhoc policies and since then junior officers have often been wrongfully chosen to fill senior positions. A junior grade-20 officer, Munawwar Nazir Abbasi, was given the Chief Executive Officer position, which is a grade-21 post.
According to the seniority list of the grade-18 senior engineers issued by the relevant authority on July 15, 2013, Abdul Ghaffar Mako, who joined the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) as a line superintendent in the year 1989, and who has been placed at serial number 35 on the company's seniority list which is available with The Express Tribune, was promoted to the grade-19 Superintendent Engineer Operation post over 34 other more senior officers.
Similarly, senior engineer Mazhar Ali Shaikh was promoted to grade-18 senior engineer in January 2005 and senior engineer Ahmed Ali Shaikh was promoted to grade-18 senior engineer in September 2007 over many other more deserving officers.
According to a well-placed source at Sepco who requested anonymity, an executive engineer operation Rohri, with the help of accounts officer and others, misappropriated millions of rupees from the general provident fund of the employees in 2013. Mako was found guilty of misappropriating the funds during an internal inquiry conducted and was ordered to deposit the said amount with the department, which has yet to be deposited. The source further added that Mako shares close ties with an influential politician of Sukkur, who has helped ensure his success within the company. In exchange, he ensures that there is no load-shedding conducted near the politician's residence.
Some other junior officers working at high, undeserved posts include Ashfaq Hussain Bhatti, a grade-18 officer who has been posted as grade-19 metre testing manager and grade-18 officer Abdul Karim Memon, who has been posted as the grade-19 complaints director, maintenance and operation. The source also said that Old Sukkur sub-division officer Israr Bachkani is also enjoying support of the same politician because during his posting as SDO Salehpat, he always ensured uninterrupted power supply to the tube wells of that politician.
Such unfair practices have caused the business of the distribution company to suffer badly. All the four feeders in Old Sukkur sub-division, Jeay Shah feeder, Shalimar feeder, Royal Road feeder and Qureshi Road feeders are operating on heavy losses but no action has been taken against the subdivisional officer.
Despite repeated attempts, the Chief Executive Officer Sepco Munawwar Nazir Abbasi was not available for a comment. According to his public relations officer Noor Ahmed Soomro, the junior officers were holding the senior posts because there were no other officers available in the region to fill the posts. When asked why the more senior officers were ignored, he responded, "no comment."
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2014.
Ignoring the standing orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, many senior officers have been sidelined to promote junior officers to higher posts in Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco).
Since its establishment, Sepco has been running on adhoc policies and since then junior officers have often been wrongfully chosen to fill senior positions. A junior grade-20 officer, Munawwar Nazir Abbasi, was given the Chief Executive Officer position, which is a grade-21 post.
According to the seniority list of the grade-18 senior engineers issued by the relevant authority on July 15, 2013, Abdul Ghaffar Mako, who joined the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) as a line superintendent in the year 1989, and who has been placed at serial number 35 on the company's seniority list which is available with The Express Tribune, was promoted to the grade-19 Superintendent Engineer Operation post over 34 other more senior officers.
Similarly, senior engineer Mazhar Ali Shaikh was promoted to grade-18 senior engineer in January 2005 and senior engineer Ahmed Ali Shaikh was promoted to grade-18 senior engineer in September 2007 over many other more deserving officers.
According to a well-placed source at Sepco who requested anonymity, an executive engineer operation Rohri, with the help of accounts officer and others, misappropriated millions of rupees from the general provident fund of the employees in 2013. Mako was found guilty of misappropriating the funds during an internal inquiry conducted and was ordered to deposit the said amount with the department, which has yet to be deposited. The source further added that Mako shares close ties with an influential politician of Sukkur, who has helped ensure his success within the company. In exchange, he ensures that there is no load-shedding conducted near the politician's residence.
Some other junior officers working at high, undeserved posts include Ashfaq Hussain Bhatti, a grade-18 officer who has been posted as grade-19 metre testing manager and grade-18 officer Abdul Karim Memon, who has been posted as the grade-19 complaints director, maintenance and operation. The source also said that Old Sukkur sub-division officer Israr Bachkani is also enjoying support of the same politician because during his posting as SDO Salehpat, he always ensured uninterrupted power supply to the tube wells of that politician.
Such unfair practices have caused the business of the distribution company to suffer badly. All the four feeders in Old Sukkur sub-division, Jeay Shah feeder, Shalimar feeder, Royal Road feeder and Qureshi Road feeders are operating on heavy losses but no action has been taken against the subdivisional officer.
Despite repeated attempts, the Chief Executive Officer Sepco Munawwar Nazir Abbasi was not available for a comment. According to his public relations officer Noor Ahmed Soomro, the junior officers were holding the senior posts because there were no other officers available in the region to fill the posts. When asked why the more senior officers were ignored, he responded, "no comment."
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2014.