An inquiry by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has revealed that “the misuse of official vehicles is so rampant within government departments that a former chairman allegedly had nine vehicles in his personal use during his five-year tenure”.
According to a local media report, the HEC Inquiry Officer Saleemullah Sohoo submitted a report that suggested that “Rs10 billion should be recovered from former chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed for the misuse of the vehicles”.
Moreover, it was reported that the matter has been forwarded to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
An initial inquiry into the misuse of vehicles was notified on April 27, following which Saleemullah Sohoo was nominated to lead the probe. On May 15, the report was submitted to the HEC. However, as per sources quoted in the report, no action has been taken as the new HEC Chairman Tariq Banuri “did not want to appear vindictive toward his predecessor”.
According to the findings of the inquiry quoted by the local media, “the ex-chairman was entitled to use only one chauffeur-driven car, but actually used five vehicles regularly for official, personal and family purposes”.
“The report revealed that an HEC tractor, trolley, water tank, driller and other horticulture tools and implements, as well as ancillary staff such as gardeners, were used at the personal farmhouse of the ex-HEC boss, located near the Islamabad-Lahore motorway which resulted in losses of millions.”