‘Recruitment scrutinised only because nepotism was resisted’

PESHAWAR:

A K-P Assembly insider said the recruitment of 796 warders for prisons across the province was brought under scrutiny only because the  ‘recommendations’ of MPAs, including those belonging to PTI, were not honoured.

MPAs had said the induction process is “based on irregularities”. “I cannot promise the recruitment was 100% transparent but I can say 90% of the appointments were based on merit,” said the insider. He added the recommendations sent in by PTI lawmakers were printed on official letterheads.

One of the selection committee panel members informed The Express Tribune almost all MPAs had approached the committee to select their favoured applicants. “The only reason the recruitment orders were cancelled is because the panel resisted nepotism.”

A source at the prison said all the lists and supporting documents were present at Central Prison Peshawar before Adviser to CM on Prisons Malik Qasim took the record with him on February 20. When contacted on Thursday, Qasim refused to share details from the prison record. “Yes I still have the record but I cannot share it at this point. If the court summons me, I will produce it there,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2015.