Hidden influence: Inquiry into hiring scandal faces hurdles
Special Education Directorate Islamabad fails to provide original records of employees employed in 2009
Special Education Directorate Islamabad fails to provide original records of employees employed in 2009. STOCK IMAGE
ISLAMABAD:
A de novo proceeding (fresh inquiry) into the scandal of 119 illegal appointments in the Special Education Directorate Islamabad in 2009 is facing hurdles, with hidden influence preventing its smooth implementation.
Sources close to the case told Express Investigation Cell that the department concerned seems reluctant to produce original records in a bid to hide facts and also to delay the proceedings before the inquiry officer despite receiving repeated reminders over the last three months, sources disclosed.
This act of the department concerned irked the inquiry officer who was compelled to issue a third reminder to the department on Thursday for voluntary production of records in order to avoid further delay, sources revealed. The non-serious attitude of the officials concerned and their unwillingness to cooperate is posing a challenge for the government to ensure transparent and fair proceedings in the case.
It is important to recall that the PPP government approved 32 posts of different cadres of grade-17 on a contract basis within the Directorate in 2009, but recruited 119 committee employed officers unlawfully, violating the rules.
When contacted, the inquiry officer, Ashfaq Ghumman, Additional Secretary Ministry of Industries confirmed issuance of three reminders to the Special Education Directorate for production of original documentary records but these have not yet been produced. Earlier the department’s representative had tried to convince him verbally, but he asked him to produce original record of these appointments, he said. When questioned about further delay in providing record, he said that in such a situation, the inquiry officer has powers under the rules to take appropriate legal action as it amounts to serious misconduct. However he hoped that he would receive a positive reply from the concerned quarters to proceed further with the inquiry.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2015.
A de novo proceeding (fresh inquiry) into the scandal of 119 illegal appointments in the Special Education Directorate Islamabad in 2009 is facing hurdles, with hidden influence preventing its smooth implementation.
Sources close to the case told Express Investigation Cell that the department concerned seems reluctant to produce original records in a bid to hide facts and also to delay the proceedings before the inquiry officer despite receiving repeated reminders over the last three months, sources disclosed.
This act of the department concerned irked the inquiry officer who was compelled to issue a third reminder to the department on Thursday for voluntary production of records in order to avoid further delay, sources revealed. The non-serious attitude of the officials concerned and their unwillingness to cooperate is posing a challenge for the government to ensure transparent and fair proceedings in the case.
It is important to recall that the PPP government approved 32 posts of different cadres of grade-17 on a contract basis within the Directorate in 2009, but recruited 119 committee employed officers unlawfully, violating the rules.
When contacted, the inquiry officer, Ashfaq Ghumman, Additional Secretary Ministry of Industries confirmed issuance of three reminders to the Special Education Directorate for production of original documentary records but these have not yet been produced. Earlier the department’s representative had tried to convince him verbally, but he asked him to produce original record of these appointments, he said. When questioned about further delay in providing record, he said that in such a situation, the inquiry officer has powers under the rules to take appropriate legal action as it amounts to serious misconduct. However he hoped that he would receive a positive reply from the concerned quarters to proceed further with the inquiry.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2015.