Owing to growing allegations of illegal interference against Col (r) Zafar, husband of Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) Chairperson Shaheen Khan, in official matters, the employees of FBISE staged a protest demonstration on Thursday to voice their concerns.
Employees alleged that being the husband of FBISE chairperson, Col (r) Zafar had been enjoying the status of chairperson and was in a habit of forcing them to obey his illegal orders.
In the past, FBISE chairperson made several headlines for being involved in wrongdoings, particularly in the case when the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had declared her doctorate degree fake and for making an illegal deal for purchasing land worth Rs 750 million for initiating a housing scheme for FBISE employees. Interestingly, the persons concerned said that the housing scheme was declared illegally by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
On Thursday, fresh allegations of interference of the retired army officer surfaced when FBISE Director Research Zulfiqar Ali Rizvi was summoned by FBISE chairperson to her office to discuss the matter of a particular file. Meanwhile, Col (r) Zafar was already present there and he shouted at the officer for not properly completing the file work. Upon this, both exchanged harsh words.
Sources said that Col (r) Zafar humiliated the officer and threatened him of dire consequences. As soon as the matter came into the notice of other officers they went on strike. Some departmental heads and dozens of employees staged a protest demonstration against the incident.
“Enough is enough… we can’t obey illegal orders of Col (r) Zafar anymore. All employees have decided not to perform duties until the entry of Col (r) Zafar is not banned in FBISE premises. We are going to stage a massive protest on Friday,” FBISE director research said.
Meanwhile, employees remained on strike for several hours. They demanded that the interference of Col (r) Zafar in FBISE affairs should be stopped and the couple should immediately vacate FBISE’s guest house, where they were illegally residing.
It may be recalled here that the FBISE chairperson was drawing a hefty amount in the guise of house rent. But she was living in the FBISE guest house after renting out the hired house.
Later on, sensing the gravity of situation, Shaheen rushed to the protest venue and managed to persuade the protesters to end their demonstration. She assured the employee that in future her husband would not interfere in the Board’s affairs.
On Thursday evening, the FBISE chairperson, while talking to Pakistan Today said, “I have no idea about any protest. Every thing is going well in FBISE.” When pressed, she said the protest was a personal issue of director research and he might have staged a protest with some of his friends. To a query, regarding her alleged illegal stay at the FBISE guest house, she said, “Yes, I’m getting house rent along with my salary but I’m paying rent here too.”
