KARACHI: Secretary to Sindh Chief Minister for Universities and Boards Muhammad Hussain Syed appears to be more powerful than Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, as the secretary is giving illegal favours to former top officers of Mirpurkhas Board, who were terminated from their jobs by Sindh CM, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Two of the officers of Mirpurkhas Board were found involved in the illegal appointment of over 100 people on political grounds. The secretary gave them a chance of personal hearing without the consent of the chief minister, said sources.
Former deputy director research Barkat Ali Qureshi and Mirpurkhas Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Controller Abdul Hafeez were terminated on October 15, 2017, on the directions of CM Shah for their involvement in corruption and 113 illegal appointments in the board from grade 1 to 15. They were dismissed after fulfilling all formalities, on the report of scrutiny committee constituted by the board of governors and chief minister.
Sindh CM spokesman Abdul Rasheed Channa said that all the matter is in the knowledge of the chief minister, who is himself enquiring into the matter. “CM Shah strictly believes in transparency and merit and no officer will be allowed to take any irregular step in any regard,” added the spokesman.
He said that the matter of illegal appointments was also investigated by National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and after investigation, reference was filed in Karachi Accountability Court against both Qureshi and Hafeez.
Surprisingly, after completing all process, a letter of personal hearing had been sent to both the terminated officers and head of board without mentioning the justification and reason of hearing by secretary to CM for universities and boards.
An officer of CM house said that some officials of chief minister’s secretariat wanted to give illegal favour to these said terminated officers due to their alleged political connections with a particular, newly formed political party.
The matter of the said 113 illegal appointments made by both the officers has also been sent to Sindh law department to decide the legal position.
Pakistan Today tried to contact Universities and Boards Secretary Muhammad Hussain Syed, however, his cell phone remained unattended.