Under lock and key: Ehtesab Commission arrests former excise and taxation secretary

Says he purchased weapons, distributed cars illegally

PESHAWAR: The Ehtesab Commission arrested former secretary for excise and taxation department Sajid Jadoon on corruption charges on Wednesday. According to the commission, Jadoon had illegally purchased weapons, wireless sets and other equipment.

Jadoon, currently posted as secretary for industry, had made the purchases without following the law. This resulted in losses with millions of rupees to the exchequer.

“He is also involved in the illegal retention of confiscated vehicles in the excise and taxation department. He also gave away those vehicles to people illegally,” read a statement issued by the commission. It further stated the suspect misused authority at the time he was secretary for excise and taxation with “mala fide intentions.”

The commission has also obtained eight-day custody of the Assistant Excise and Taxation Officer Ijlal Qayyum Babar and warehouse officer Khalid Khan for a similar case of purchasing weapons illegally.

The Ehtesab Court judge Subhan Sher extended the physical custody of the two officers after Additional Deputy Prosecutor Qazi Babar Irshad requested for it.

Irshad told the court both officials were involved in purchase of substandard equipment and weapons. Also, they sold vehicles illegally. Those vehicles had been confiscated by the department and were supposed to be auctioned off.

He requested the court to extend the physical custody because investigation is yet to be completed and more information is required from them.

Rebuttal

The Provincial Civil Services Association condemned the arrest of its president Jadoon. The association issued a statement, saying Jadoon has been arrested because he had proposed changes in the EC legislation being member of the recently constituted cabinet committee headed by Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan.

“Only PCS officers are being targeted and harassed, which has created uncertainty among the officers. Pre-mature arrest without due procedure and proper investigation [is unfair],” the statement issued by the association reads.

The statement also called the arrest “illegal,” and said such moves are harming the reputation of officers, shaking their confidence, thereby adversely affecting the administration which is against the spirit of EC.

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