CDA member planning fears Sindhu may replace him

Responding to the show cause notice of misconduct, malpractices by Capital Development Authority’s Member Planning Asad Mehboob Kayani to the CDA’s DDG Training Academy, Sarwar Sidhu said that the incumbent member planning fears that if the report of Islamabad High Court (IHC) commission—which says the senior most town planner should be CDA member planning—is implemented, he would replace him; therefore, cheap tactics are being used to damage his career.

The CDA’s Human Resource Development Directorate had issued a show cause notice to the incumbent Deputy Director General (DDG) Training Academy, CDA on the pretext of the committed acts of inefficiency and misconduct [malpractices] in the ToR’s and BOT’s signed with the private company in Diplomatic Shuttle Service project in 2007, when he was Director Urban Planning, CDA.

It was earlier alleged that the said official, while giving a favour to the private company, had played smartly in ToR and BOT making.

“Several officials of CDA were involved then in 2007, resulting in a biased contract being made with the private company, due to which the most precious land of the civic authority was allowed to be used by the contractor without paying a proper tax worth millions of rupees. That costed CDA, and national exchequer billions of rupees so far. He [the contractor] was only asked to pay annual ground tax to the authority, which was nominal, only 50,000 per year,” said an official of CDA while requesting anonymity.

It is noted that there are a number of departmental inquiries against the same officer of misconduct, malpractices, and kickbacks in different mega projects; he is also accused of favouring dozens of contractors in raising illegal and unauthorized buildings.

“Sindhu has a chequered history after Ghulam Murtaza in CDA; in fact, he is the most corrupt official. When he was deployed in planning wing, he made billions of rupees, he is the man behind giving undue favours in Safa Gold Mall case, Centaurus case, Grand Hayyat case and many others,” said an official of BCS.

On August 24, the notice was served to the said employee of CDA while he was also given seven days to come up with a written reply to the aforementioned show cause notice. The charge sheet was made against him on January 31, 2014. It may be mentioned here that the given seven day time has already expired.

Dr Fahad H Aziz, Member Finance CDA, and an inquiry officer into the said inquiry which was constituted on the recommendations of IHC commission headed by Justice (retd) Sardar Raza, has submitted an inquiry report. The report states that the terms of references (TOR) and build, operate and transfer (BOT) were not properly developed; furthermore, the agreement was also signed contrary to the terms and conditions approved by the then CDA board. These charges stand proven against the accused, the report says.

Moreover, the undersigned being an authorised officer upon considering the findings of inquiry committee has reached the conclusion that the ibid charges against Sindhu stood established.

The officer also came to the provisional conclusion that he appeared to be guilty of inefficiency and misconduct on account of said acts of omission and commission on his part, and he is liable to disciplinary action, which may involve a sum of penalties, including a major penalty of dismissal from service.

Sindhu has also been given seven days to submit his response in writing within seven days of the receipt of this notice, which was served in late August.

It was mentioned then that in case no reply would furnish, it would be presumed that he has no defence to offer or he has accepted the charges against him; in that case, action against him shall be taken ex-parte.

However, when contacted, Deputy Director General (DDG) Training Academy, CDA, Ghulam Sarwar Sidhu said that he is being singled out on the basis of a personal grudge, as the incumbent member planning Asad Mehboob Kayani fears that according to the report of IHC commission, the senior most town planner should be posted as Member Planning. And since Sindhu is the senior most, Asad worries that he may replace him—if the report is implemented.

“I am exonerated in the same inquiry in 2014. According to the service regulations, it is mentioned that at least three officers of the inquiry committee must be the seniors of the accused; but in my case, except member finance, all three are my juniors,” he said.

He went on to state that he has challenged this inquiry’s show cause in Islamabad High Court, therefore, the matter is sub-judice.