KARACHI: Whereas the Sindh Local Government (LG) Department seems reluctant to remove 13,000 illegally appointed officers during the tenure of former Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) minister Jam Khan Shoro, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday initiated investigations into further illegal appointment made by his brother Kashif Shoro in Qasimabad Municipal Committee (QMC), Hyderabad, it was learnt.
The sources told Pakistan Today that Kashif as QMC chairman made hundreds of illegal appointment in the town in connivance with Sub-Registrar Shah Muhammad during past few years, putting an extra burden on the provincial exchequer.
In this regard, the NAB has summoned Local Government Board Deputy Secretary Aftab Isran to bring all the relevant record of both accused before the NAB investigators on August 10.
“Whereas the competent authority has taken the cognizance of an offence allegedly committed by Shah Muhammad, Sub-Registrar Qasimabad, Kashif Shoro, Chairman, Municipal Committee Qasimabad and others under the provision of NAO, 1999.
“Whereas the inquiry has revealed that your office is in possession of information/evidence whatsoever which relates to the commission of said offences”, said the official letter issued by NAB.
According to sources, the LG department has been feeding more than 13,000 illegal appointees since past couple of years despite the fact that the administrative department recommended action against these employees after thorough verification.
The NAB had also investigated the case and has arrested absconding former LG secretary, who was considered to have close ties with PPP leaders including former LG minister Agha Siraj Durrani and Owais Muzaffar Tapi, for his alleged involvement in the illegal appointments.
The officials of the LG department have also recorded confessional statements informing the investigators that Durrani forced them for forging around 12,800 illegal appointments in the LG department.
The confessional statements were made by at least 23 officers of the Local Government Department who were summoned by NAB Investigation Officer Sabih Rafay at bureau’s headquarters.
The sources said that the provincial exchequer is suffering the loss of millions of rupees under the head of salaries being paid to these illegally appointed persons, adding that the PPP government will not remove these political appointees.