In its last days of administration, the now-defunct City District Government Karachi (CDGK) appointed at least 800 people – half of them on backdate – in its Education Department on a bribe ranging from Rs 150,000 to 200,000, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Well-placed sources in the new administrative set-up told Pakistan Today that all the illegal appointments were made by a single senior education department officer in connivance with the department’s junior staff.
The appointment of around 400 personnel was cancelled by the CDGK administration when it passed an order regarding termination of services of all its contractual employees, but the positions of the other 400 remained safe as they were appointed on backdates i.e. 1997, 2007 and 2009.
“These appointments were made in the then 18 towns of the city in return for a heavy bribe ranging between Rs 150,000 and Rs 200,000,” sources in the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) told Pakistan Today.
The illegal appointments were made by Education District Officer (DO) Khurram Arif in connivance with pay-sheet clerks Salim KK, Umer Salim, Nadeem and Jilani. Salaries, bills and all other related documents of those appointed on backdates were also prepared in backdates.
Taking notice of the episode, the city administrator removed 400 illegally appointed people from the Education Department; however, those appointed on backdates remained safe from the legal action.
“The employees were also promoted to senior positions within a short period, creating a sense of deprivation among the senior officials of the Education Department,” the sources claimed.
Recently, KMC Administrator Mohammad Hussain Syed appointed District Officer (Parole) Nasir Jamal as the inquiry officer to investigate the matter. However, the official fearing pressure from the “corrupt” officers involved in this illegal practice was able to get himself transferred from the Education Department.
When Pakistan Today visited the office of district officer (parole) to seek his version, it was learnt that Jamal had been transferred a couple of days ago and another officer named Asghar Durrani was appointed in his place. However, Durrani had not bothered to take over the charge since his appointment.
“A list containing names of the 400 personnel appointed in backdates was also prepared for initiating action against those involved, but the officials were fearing for their lives in case they took any action against them,” the sources said.
The administrator had also ordered that the current status, promotions and timescale of these illegal appointees should be checked so that stern action can be taken against them.
Pakistan Today also tried to contact Education Director Niaz Leghari; but his cell phone remained unattended.
According to a KMC press release, the Karachi administrator has ordered an inquiry into the illegal appointments of employees in the defunct CDGK is under way and any decision in this regard will be taken after submission of the final report.
When Pakistan Today approached the administrator’s office to seek his official version, Syed said the action was taken after receiving a large number of complaints regarding appointments made without fulfilling legal requirements. “A good part of these appointments was made in the Education Department of the Local Bodies Wing,” he added.
The initial report of the investigation tribunal consisting of senior officers had showed recruitment of around 1,250 teaching and non-teaching personnel in the Education Department during the past one-and-a-half years.
The authority had sent the list of these employees to the department concerned for submission of their service books and personal files to ascertain the legitimacy of their appointments but no such record has been received even after four days.
Hinting the possible involvement of various departments, including the Local Fund Audit and some bank officers among other officials, the administrator said that all officers involved in the illegal appointments scam will have to face criminal charges for indulging in unlawful acts.