District Officer (Environment) Tariq Zaman, cousin of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan, is learnt to be the main culprit in the Multan Road factory tragedy that killed 22 people and injured many.
Tariq Zaman, who is also working as the personal staff officer for Lahore DCO Ahad Cheema, is allegedly a close associate of factory owner Zaheer Shaikh and also helped him in restoring the factory even though it had been sealed.
Sources in the DCO office told Pakistan Today that Zaman also stonewalled the expected operation against the factory, located in the Hassan Town locality on Multan Road.
Recently, Commissioner Jawad Rafique Malik had directed Environment District Officer Tariq Zaman to identify the ‘illegal’ industries and their manufacturers and get criminal cases registered against them for creating environmental pollution. But Tariq had remained unmoved. In May, 2011, he headed a team and sealed 19 steel mills, situated in Northern Lahore on account of violating environment laws by using substandard fuel and rubber tyres as fuel. But he did not take an action against the factory that was also causing pollution in the area, CDGL senior official disclosed.
Being the head of environment section in CDGL, Tariq did not conduct a single survey during 10 years to identify illegal factories sprawling in different parts of the city, he added.
Sources said Tariq had been holding the post of DO (Education) for the last 10 years because of his strong political connections. Even the chief secretaries, DCOs, EDOs and other officers were reshuffled but nobody could dare remove Zaman which showed his deep penetration into the bureaucratic circles, sources added. Once, Zaman was also found involved in some extortion and bribery cases by former DCO Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta. However, some top officials intervened and saved him. He was the only officer who has remained DO (Environment) since the tenure of former City Nazim Mian Amir Mehmood to date. Besides, he held the charge of Mechinal Tandoor project, Arms license, anti-encroachment drive, civil defence and many others.
Officials in the DCO office said he was trying to get an illegal CNG filling station approved at property bearing Khasra No 55 / MIN measuring 3-4 kanal, 12 marla, moza Shapur Kanjran on Multan Road, Motorway interchange. “After getting NOCs by hook or crook, he struggled to get an official approval from CDGL and succeeded in forming a committee to sanction the CNG station,” the source said, adding “soon, the DCO chaired a commercialisation committee on December 5, 2008 and formed a committee comprising EDO (W&S), DO (SP) and Director Construction, WASA,” he explained.
However, his plan was dashed to ground after the committee objected that the construction of CNG station, which belonged to his father Javed Zaman, would cause disruption in traffic flow near Motorway and referred to a mandatory requirement per NHA letter No 5 (1) NHA / DD (P & R) 2007 / 1053. On query, DCO Ahed Cheema said that no one was above the law and responsible would have to be taken to task.
Meanwhile, the mystery could not be solved about the authority which sealed the factory last time. Mystery also shrouded the jurisdiction of factory as both Allama Iqbal Town and LDA disowned the area of the factory.
Allama Iqbal Town administration submitted a report to CMIT that the factory area fell into the domain of LDA and LDA had sealed the factory. Town administration report also said the factory was listed by High Rising Commissioner constituted by Supreme Court and the commissioner had also visited the site some years ago and had declared the last storey of the factory as illegal. However, LDA in its report said the case of building by-laws were pending in the court and LDA could not take an action on a subjudice issue. It said Multan Road fell into its area but Hassan Town belonged to Allama Iqbal Town and it further alleged that the TMO had sealed and unsealed the factory after taking bribery.
LDA Director Estate Management Nauman Khan told Pakistan Today that LDA had nothing to do with Hassan Town. The CMIT has received both the reports and would submit its final report on Wednesday. CMIT Chairman Najam Saeed told Pakistan Today that data was being collected from all authorities concerned and it was hoped that finding would be compiled till tomorrow. According to the report, Lahore Commissioner Jawad Rafiq left for Turkey tour despite the severity of the situation and DCO Ahad Cheema had been notified as the commissioner in the absence of Rafiq.
Meanwhile, Labour Party Pakistan held a demonstration in front of the factory few hours after the incident to demand the arrest of the owners, more effective relief work, a compensation of at least one million for those who had lost their lives, five hundred thousand for all the injured, lifting of ban on labour inspection and to provide all the necessary safety measures to the workers. Hundreds of workers gathered to raise voices against the Punjab and central government. Women Workers Help Line and National Trade Union Federation participated in the demonstration as well.
oh bahi firaun ke ghar main bhi moosa tha… Imran Khan ka cousin hai tu kiya pore khaandan ka thaika liya hua hai Imran Khan ne, shame on ya who put caption on this news
I agree with you Faysal. if we keep on going like this, everyone knows someone in the world!!seriously propoganda create karny mai har koi agy hota hai. How can they put the DCO as IK reference..why doesn't the writer say that Tariq was there because he was part of Nawaz sharif and not following the protocols so the Punjab government is a mess..but No the writer goes ahead and puts IK reference there.
@faysal> uski party may jo corrupt log add hain , uskay baray may kya khyaal hai!
PTI is not a golf club that no one can join. there has been an influx of politicians in the party & they have all come on the agenda of PTI and IK..simple..so if someone is corrupt..he will not survive in the party..simple..its not like IK has given them management or powers to control the party…& abhi tou tickets nahi diay..they are not representing PTI..abhi wo team banni hai
i m unable to understand how DO(environment) is behind the collapse, when the LDA inspectors and other departments are appointed to monitor and challan the people who run commercial activities in residential areas and other ancillary activities. now we can guess who is behind this news and investigation. please these deceased are not your relatives i wish something happens to hamza and then c the result.
That’s not fair to associate corruption with Imran Khan in this pathetic way. how u can blame IK, if his cousin is DO (Env) ??? Tariq Zaman is not a part of PTI, he is a government servant of Punjab. If Govt. is not taking action against Tariq, then Govt of Punjab is corrupt. so please don’t blame PTI or Imran Kahan.
Exactly..well said yar:) its how the media is trying to create a propoganda..blaming other people for their governance failures!!!
shame on ik and pti
then how you ( reporter) proves that IK is behind this and is main source of corruption. news reporters should not be biased
shame on pathatic ppl who r assosiating this wid PTI n IK
paid news report by PML-N, sick journalism
to incrimante any person under the law for any offence it is important to prove that he either committed the offence himself or aided or abetted the criminal. not because he is related to the criminal/wrong doer. i reckon IK should bring an action for defamation against Pak Today and the author of the news story. every likelihood of the case verdict being given in his favour.
all of u he was govt servant and DO not environment inspector still not IK’s so who to blame…..
Its pathetic caption, i think IK have nothing to do with it, if tariq zaman is guilty he should be jailed.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000212… tum ko bhi lap top de diya kiya PML-N ne lolz
:/
CHORO YAAR,GHER KI BAAT HAI. INSAAN TO MER TE HI REHTE HAIN???????????????????????????????????
Mr. Yasir Habib, you must be expecting wonderful compensation from the Government Punjab and from the federal government as well but fact above the facts is that, Mr. Imran Khan is neither our Prime Minister nor President, he is not in an Army chief and am sure not head of Punjab. Whatever and whoever is doing is responsible for his own deeds. No Imran Khan or anyone else is responsible for whatever anyone else does. These blames on Imran would have any weight he was in power by any mean. Secondly, if you are sensible guy, you must have idea that Mr. Tariq Zaman who is also working as the personal staff officer for Lahore DCO Ahad Cheema is can not be declare responsible in a way that he is just a PSO and he is PSO to Cheema, how on the earth you though Cheema would totally a clean person and Tariq is so influential that he can do everything without permission of Cheema… Come on, at least learn telling lie its an art baby…
I agree with mr abbasi and umair (above comments)_Govr Punjab and mr shahbaz sharif are the real culprits.__I wonder how can pakistan today publish such sillly lies and fabricated stories.
This person by the name of Mr. Tariq Zaman seems to be a more powerful man then Zardari or Nawaz Sharif. I mean allegedly you are saying that he has been doing all this corruption but yet have been unmoved since 10 years. If I really believe that all this information is true than I really want to give a ‘Laanat’ to Punjab Government for such an inefficient administration! Also, it is interesting how at the beginning of this column, it is mentioned that Mr. Tariq Zaman is a cousin of PTI Chief Imran Khan. If your brother or your cousin kills somebody, does that make you a murderer aswell?
what a sick way of projecting the story? how can you relate the fact that since one of the people involved is IK's cousin hence he is corrupt. This story seems a like a paid ad by PML-N
100% correct, if the news is correct, it is alos correct source of the guilty party's power can not be Imran Khan in any case…………………..
this is the most pathetic and ridiculous attempt by far to put the trash of corruption intho IK's lap by linking the corrupt DO with IK in the most absurd manner possible. how do you even qualify to be a joournalist Mr. Writer.
The sons of Noah and Wife of prophet Lot , who was cousin of Prohet Ibrahim (PBU all prophets) and Abu Lahab who was real uncle and his wife Arwa who was sister of Abu Sufyan, did not obey Allah…and had to suffer in the end…Hang Tariq if he is responsible… Imran may be having 150 or so cousins, how is he responsible for all their deeds.
This definitely is a very pathetic attempt to malign the name of Imran Khan.Supports of IK, be mentally prepare for even greater propogansad against IK i the future.This is just a glimpse that frustrated politicians and playing with the emotions of the paki people.
One more reason to vote PTI.
YAsir habib sahab crappy article, oh bahi firaun ke ghar main bhi moosa tha… Imran Khan ka cousin hai tu kiya pore khaandan ka thaika liya hua hai Imran Khan ne, shame on ya who put caption on this news
PTI not responsible,where is CM,dishing out LAPTOPS out of govt funds.TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF CHILE WHERE PRESIDENT KEPT ON STANDING TILL LAST MAN CAME OUT OF YHE MINE LAST YEAR
How long can you play the blame game? PML-N stodgy planning and implementation team is responsible for such a major human loss and other major human rights violations. Finding a fall guy like TZ is an easy way out. As soon the unpleasantness wears out everything will be hushed up. The Pharmaceutical factory mixing animal medicines with humans, employing underage daily labor instead of qualified pharmacists, and operating hazardous material in residential area will be soon back in business. Penalize the ministers… the so called top guns. And leave PTI out of it…
is main imran khan ka kia kasoor ha?
JIS NE PARTY KA JANDA HAAT ME LIA HYE KISS LAIE SIRF APNE MAFAD KE LAIEE JAMHURIAT ME KISS KO FAIDA HYE SIRF PARTY WALOO KO BAQI LOOGH SIRF TAMASHAI HYE AOUR DUNYA KE JAHANAM KE AAGH ME JALTHE HYE
Highly irresponsible and disappointing journalism. Forget about Imran Khan, you have no right to accuse Mr Tariq Zaman Khan without any concrete evidence. This is slander and defamation. In a civilized society you are punishable by law for accusing people like this. Pakistani media must raise their standards of reporting and remain unbiased. The public is not as stupid as you'd like them to be! Very shameful.
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