While former Islamabad additional deputy commissioner Maryam Khan’s ‘illegal’ removal from her post is still making headlines, another case of victimisation of a female bureaucrat has come to the surface.
According to reports, Islamabad Assistant Commissioner (AC) Rabia Aurangzaib sealed 72 kanals of disputed land valued over Rs 1 billion on August 16, 2012 against the “directions” of her bosses.
The very next day, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Tariq Mehmood Pirzada removed her from the post and made her an officer on special duty (OSD). Although Rabia’s removal occurred prior to that of Maryam Khan, the former filed a case after she saw that Khan’s case was being taken seriously. The parties to the dispute are Pir of Golra Sharif Syed Abdul Haq Gilani and Service Co-operative Housing Society. Sources said Rabia was verbally instructed by the chief commissioner not to seal the land, but she passed the order nevertheless.
As a result, she was removed the very next day and was made an OSD, merely after a month of her posting. She was replaced by an under training officer, Waqas Rashid. In 2009, a committee headed by then deputy commissioner Asadullah Faiz also heard this case in length and decided that the piece of land should remain sealed. “Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedures (CCP) must remain intact until any collective decision regarding the dispute of the possession and ownership is taken by any court of competent jurisdiction,” the meeting decided.
On August 16, 2012, Rabia conducted a detailed hearing and decided that the disputed land should remain sealed. Before making her judgment, she also sought the police report from Golra police station house officer. “I am of the opinion that when the Islamabad DC headed the committee he gave a very clear verdict that as both the parties claim possession of the same land and that the matter is still sub-judice before the Islamabad High Court, the vacation of section 145 of the CCP amounts to a glare violation of the verdict given by Islamabad DC and will cause a law and order situation at the site. Therefore, the proceedings under Section 145 shall remain intact till further orders of a competent court,” she said in her decision.
However, her replacement, Waqas Rashid reversed her orders, but the same was stayed by the session’s court. On October 22, the AC wrote a letter to the interior secretary and narrated her tale, but no action was taken. In her letter, she said: “On August 13 (just after three weeks as AC Saddar), I was verbally asked by the chief commissioner to open the case of a property located in Golra, Islamabad which had been sealed by my predecessors. When I went over the latest police report on August 13, I realised that the opening of the case would lead to a law and order situation. I, therefore, ordered the land remain sealed. As a result, I was transferred by the chief commissioner the very next day. When I went to see him, he reprimanded me and said I was not a good officer and not even a person worth talking to. It is the start of my career and I’m being punished for an act which I did judiciously and as per law. I was transferred only because I did not obey the illegal orders of the chief commissioner and did the right thing.”
Islamabad Chief Commissioner Tariq Mehmood Pirzada said, “Yes, I had directed Rabia Aurangzaib to open the case because we cannot keep the property of citizens sealed.” Asked why Rabia was removed a day after she gave her verdict over the disputed land, the commissioner said there were a number of complaints against her.
SC takes suo motu notice over harassment of govt officers
Taking suo motu notice over the harassment of government officers, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued summons to the Attorney General, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Hussain Asghar, Islamabad Additional Deputy Commissioner (DC) Maryam Khan and former SP (Industrial Area) Dr Khurram Rashid and fixed the hearing date for Thursday (today). The FIA additional DG, who had been heading a probe into the Hajj scandal, was summoned by the National Assembly Privilege Committee on December 3. Last week, Islamabad additional DC was made officer on special duty (OSD) for not following the wishes and whims of seniors. She was followed by SP (Industrial Area) Dr Khurram Rashid who surrendered his post on December 2.