At least 78 people were appointed in Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) by an influential official, backed by some ministers of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party. Interestingly, the influential official from the technical side of the irrigation department did not even bother to get an approval from the competent authority, the chief minister or the concerned minister, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The official, who is said to have close ties with the irrigation minister, earned millions after the sale of these positions that ranged from grade 1 to 5.
Sources said Executive Engineer (TubeWell Division) Ghotki Feeder Canal, Zahid Qureshi, and his team had, with the full backing of Jam Saifullah Dharejo, illegally appointed at least 78 people in the department in complete violation of the set rules and regulations for appointments.
In this regard, SIDA managing director (MD) Mohammad Ahsan Leghari recently forwarded a letter NO EC/G-148/193 to the Secretary Irrigation Khalid Haider Memon, sources added.
“The Executive Engineer (TubeWell division) Ghotki Feeder Canal Zahid Qureshi has appointed 78 people on the posts of grade 1 to 5 and minted millions of rupees from those appointed. Qureshi had done this job without taking approval from the competent authority and he had not even followed the basic rules of appointments of the Sindh government,” the sources said, quoting text of the letter.
Per the rules of business of the Sindh government, the executive engineers of irrigation department are authorised to make fresh appointments on vacant seats from grade 1 to 5, however prior permission from secretary irrigation is required besides advertisements in local dailies.
The appointments were made from December 31, 2011 to January 23, 2012 including those of Zafar Kalwar, Mohammad Ali Shar, Sodho Indhar, Shabir Ghoto, Aqeel, Pervez Shaikh, Zubair Kalhoro, Khan Mohammad Soomro, Aftab Ghutu, Tariq Aziz Kolachi and others.
Moreover, sources alleged that the official issued appointment letters to these candidates at a rate of at least Rs 75,000 per vacancy, adding that a report had been forwarded to the irrigation minister and other senior authorities for strict action.
Furthermore, Auditor General of Pakistan in his report on the accounts of Sindh government for the audit year 2011-2012, has also pointed out this irregularity.
“The SIDA MD Hyderabad paid Rs 2.239 million on account of salaries to various officials appointed in violation of rules. The said positions were not advertised, applications were received by hand, copies of call letters were not available and without fitness certificates issued by the civil surgeon,” according to a report available with Pakistan Today.
The report further said, “The management did not observe rules and procedures for appointment which reflected weak financial discipline and internal controls.”
The sources said the irregularity was reported to the department in August, October and December 2011 but no action was taken so far.
78 illegal appointments in SIDA being investigated
