“I am open to investigation of my assets. I have never been guilty of dishonesty in my entire career,” Naseem Sadiq said. PHOTO: NAB WEBSITE
A corruption reference has been sent against a former Multan DCO to the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Punjab chapter, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Multan Cattle Market Management Company (CMMC) Managing Director Zafar Ziya has sent the reference against a number of officials, including Naseem Sadiq, the former Multan DCO who is currently serving as the livestock and dairy development secretary.
The reference accuses the officials of embezzlement of Rs35 million in the establishment of the CMMC.
Sadiq, a BS-19 officer, served as Multan DCO from October 8, 2012 to April 4, 2013.
Ziya has requested the NAB to initiate an inquiry against Sadiq, the then town municipal officer Iqbal Farid and town finance officer Rana Khalil Ahmed of Sher Shah Town, Multan.
In the reference, Ziya claimed that the cattle market was shifted from Samu Rana to Sher Shah in 2013. “Market affairs were supervised by Iqbal Farid and Multan additional commissioner Qazi Zafar Iqbal.
A mafia consisting of 350 to 400 people, planted with the consent and approval of Sadiq, acquired private land measuring 14 acres on lease in Sher Shah for establishing the market.
The mafia, headed by Javed Arain and Malik Younas, collected millions of rupees from cattle traders with the help of the TMO and the former DCO.
They misappropriated funds in shifting of the cattle market and caused a loss of Rs35 million to the public exchequer,” he said. “Sadiq purchased agricultural land from his share in the money,” he claimed.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Sadiq said that the cattle market was initially operated by private persons. “The CMMC was established on the instructions of the chief minister.
The yearly contract was awarded in a transparent manner for Rs280 million in 2013.
This year, Ziya auctioned the contract for just Rs40 million.
The chief minister took notice of the auction and constituted a three-member committee, including me (Sadiq), to investigate the matter. We have submitted a report to the CM, pointing out huge corruption in the auction. We have recommended action against corrupt officials, including Ziya,” he said.
“I am open to investigation of my assets. I have never been guilty of dishonesty in my entire career,” Naseem Sadiq said.
Ziya, however, denied that he had been found guilty in any corruption inquiry.
Requesting anonymity, a NAB official confirmed that the reference had been received.
“Proceedings will be started in accordance with the law,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2015.
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This matter needs thorough and fair probe as we ve already heard stories of highhandedness in the management of this cattle land management in Multan. The then DCO was crony of CM Punjab and is habitual to exercise his will, irrespective of rules and regulations. Some Politicians were are also disregarded during his tenure in Multan.NAB must inquire this reference.