CMIT disappointed by LDA’s ‘delaying tactics’
LDA has yet to respond to a letter asking it to clarify its stance on 19 allegations against it.
LAHORE:
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has yet to respond to a letter sent by the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team (CMIT) on November 16, asking it to clarify its stance on 19 allegations against it.
The letter (No 49-61(ME-I)/CMIT/1188) asked the LDA director general to file a response in two days so that the CMIT can complete its investigation and report back to the chief minister within seven days.
The LDA was also asked to produce details of all roads and building construction contracts awarded since 2009 and expenditure incurred on the establishment of its One Window Cell, construction of the parking lots in its Johar Town office, renovation of the director general’s office in the basement of the Johar Town office, procurement of electronic equipments and setting up of computerised attendance system for employees.
Most allegations involve embezzlement of funds and illegal recruitment. The letter asks the LDA to appoint a responsible officer to collect comprehensive information on the cases referred and participants in the CMIT inquiry.
General (retd) Khwaja Ziaud Din, the CMIT chairman, told The Express Tribune that he had contacted the LDA time and again and asked for a response to the allegations. He said that he had encountered what appeared to be delaying tactics. He added that he had pressed upon the LDA high-ups that it was a matter of high priority and that they should address it without wasting further time. General (retd) Din said he had been assured that a response would be filed within “two days”. The CMIT, he said, would make sure that corrupt officials in all government departments and autonomous organisations were brought to justice.
A senior official at LDA said that they had received the letter after Eid holidays. He said that the LDA was looking into the allegations and would submit a detailed response to the CMIT within a few days.
The allegations include illegal allotment of a 10-marla commercial plot to the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker, Rana Mashood, in Ghulshan-i-Ravi (Mashood is an MPA from the constituency), and illegal construction of a jogging track and park opposite the Johar Town residence of Suqrat Ahmed Rana, an officer in the LDA. The CMIT has also inquired about the number of official vehicles under Rana’s use.
The letter also asks the LDA management for a justification for the appointment of a 17th grade officer, Shahid Farid, to the 19th grade post of director (administration). It asks the LDA to produce details on the expenditure incurred on the renovation of Farid’s office, including procurement of LCD TV screens. The letter accuses the LDA of illegally hiring Shahid Farid’s cousin at a monthly salary of Rs50,000.
Talking to The Tribune, Farid denied that any of his relatives was working at the LDA. He said that he was promoted to the director (admin) position by competent authorities, adding that the renovation work was undertaken before he took charge of the post.
The letter inquires about the reinstatement of Naveed Bukhari, an LDA employee who had allegedly stopped working 15 years ago, and the hiring of the brother of Madiha Shah, an LDA deputy director, as a legal advisor. It furthers asks about the tenure and terms of appointment of additional director general Mansoor Qadir’s appointment.
The letter also asks the LDA about the posting of Mr Jaffery, an assistant director at WASA, as director (EME).
Further, the letter seeks the details of the expenditure incurred on recruitments on assistant directors and computer officers’ posts and the seven trucks rented out by the Authority. Mashood, Suqrat Rana and Madiha Shah were contacted but they were not available for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2010.
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has yet to respond to a letter sent by the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team (CMIT) on November 16, asking it to clarify its stance on 19 allegations against it.
The letter (No 49-61(ME-I)/CMIT/1188) asked the LDA director general to file a response in two days so that the CMIT can complete its investigation and report back to the chief minister within seven days.
The LDA was also asked to produce details of all roads and building construction contracts awarded since 2009 and expenditure incurred on the establishment of its One Window Cell, construction of the parking lots in its Johar Town office, renovation of the director general’s office in the basement of the Johar Town office, procurement of electronic equipments and setting up of computerised attendance system for employees.
Most allegations involve embezzlement of funds and illegal recruitment. The letter asks the LDA to appoint a responsible officer to collect comprehensive information on the cases referred and participants in the CMIT inquiry.
General (retd) Khwaja Ziaud Din, the CMIT chairman, told The Express Tribune that he had contacted the LDA time and again and asked for a response to the allegations. He said that he had encountered what appeared to be delaying tactics. He added that he had pressed upon the LDA high-ups that it was a matter of high priority and that they should address it without wasting further time. General (retd) Din said he had been assured that a response would be filed within “two days”. The CMIT, he said, would make sure that corrupt officials in all government departments and autonomous organisations were brought to justice.
A senior official at LDA said that they had received the letter after Eid holidays. He said that the LDA was looking into the allegations and would submit a detailed response to the CMIT within a few days.
The allegations include illegal allotment of a 10-marla commercial plot to the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker, Rana Mashood, in Ghulshan-i-Ravi (Mashood is an MPA from the constituency), and illegal construction of a jogging track and park opposite the Johar Town residence of Suqrat Ahmed Rana, an officer in the LDA. The CMIT has also inquired about the number of official vehicles under Rana’s use.
The letter also asks the LDA management for a justification for the appointment of a 17th grade officer, Shahid Farid, to the 19th grade post of director (administration). It asks the LDA to produce details on the expenditure incurred on the renovation of Farid’s office, including procurement of LCD TV screens. The letter accuses the LDA of illegally hiring Shahid Farid’s cousin at a monthly salary of Rs50,000.
Talking to The Tribune, Farid denied that any of his relatives was working at the LDA. He said that he was promoted to the director (admin) position by competent authorities, adding that the renovation work was undertaken before he took charge of the post.
The letter inquires about the reinstatement of Naveed Bukhari, an LDA employee who had allegedly stopped working 15 years ago, and the hiring of the brother of Madiha Shah, an LDA deputy director, as a legal advisor. It furthers asks about the tenure and terms of appointment of additional director general Mansoor Qadir’s appointment.
The letter also asks the LDA about the posting of Mr Jaffery, an assistant director at WASA, as director (EME).
Further, the letter seeks the details of the expenditure incurred on recruitments on assistant directors and computer officers’ posts and the seven trucks rented out by the Authority. Mashood, Suqrat Rana and Madiha Shah were contacted but they were not available for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2010.