Sindhi language suffers as CM, education minister feud

Despite completion of all formalities, the appointment process of more than 1,200 Sindhi Language Teachers (SLTs) has come to a grinding halt owing to a running feud between Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and senior minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq over who to be patronized. The PPP-led Sindh had announced recruitment of around 1,200 SLTs in BPS-9, 14 and 15, with two preconditions: the candidates must have studied Sindhi as a compulsory subject throughout his/her education from institutions of the metropolis hold Karachi domicile.
The written test for candidates was held in March 2012 while interviews were conducted in April 2012. Sources told Pakistan Today that the merit list of the successful candidates was to be put on display in the first week of May. From then on the rift over who to benefit between the two luminaries of the government has remained unresolved, hence, no appointments. The candidates could be seen wandering in Sindh’s education department asking date for issuance of merit list and the display of merit list, returning empty-handed, other than the vague promise that the CM would issue the appointments himself. Pir Mazhar was said to be trying to influence the CM to get his way, while the CM was insisting on merit-based recruitment without waiving the preconditions, divulged a source. Pir Mazhar meanwhile has left for London, citing health issue of his spouse.
A source close to the CM says, Qaim also complained to President Asif Zardari rude attitude of Pir Mazhar and the president has reportedly has given his go-ahead to the CM on recruitment of SLTs on merit basis. Interestingly, Mazhar had also developed a serious dispute with the CM Sindh over ‘strict’ conduct of former secretary education, Nahid S Durrani, who happens to be the CM’s daughter. With Pir Mazhar siding with elements involved in receiving kickbacks, Naheed Durrani’s efforts to curb corruption and other irregularities in the Sindh Education Department resulted in her ouster. Initially, Nahid was sent on leave, but the move is a precursor to her transfer from the department. Pir Mazhar, it appears, also used Faryal Talpur’s [President Zardari’s sister], offices to remove Naheed from the secretary’s post.
The inquiries initiated by Durrani against embezzlement and other irregularities in the department are likely to be stopped after her removal, with things settling to the way before. Durrani has sent three different cases of corruption and irregularities to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and National Accountability Courts for proceedings in April alone. Each of these dealt with embezzlement of millions in the name of education. The first reference sent to the NAB court was filed under section 18 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO)-1999, with Durrani bringing up the of embezzlement in procurement of some 42 vehicles, for which the Sindh government had paid Rs 94.966 million to M/s. World Automobiles, Karachi. The orders for the vehicles were placed in connection with a project backed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) named ‘Revitalizationn of Existing Teacher Training Institutions of Sindh’. The project aimed at providing basic needs to all teacher training institutions of Sindh, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in 2006 between the Pakistan government and CIDA. The project was federally funded at a cost of Rs1,261.733 million, with a completion period of five years from Feb 23, 2007.
The project sought to improve the quality of primary and middle-school education, and was to provide vehicles, mobile in-service teaching units, resource kits and scholarships. As many as 42 vehicles had to be provided to 42 institutions for mobile in-service teaching units, at an estimated cost of Rs 149.949 million. An agreement was signed between the then project director of the education department and M/s. World Automobiles Karachi. After approving quotations provided, the department paid World Automobiles in full, but despite the passage of more than four years, the company has only delivered 16 vehicles.
The sources said that the highups in the Education Department received heavy kickbacks from the company, and as a result, ignored the matter for four years. When Durrani assumed charge as the secretary, she inquired about the matter, and after getting an improper reply from the company, she sent a reference to the NAB court for the recovery of the remaining Rs62 million. In the reference, she had prayed to the NAB court that the respondents should be directed to provide the remaining 27 vehicles booked on advance payment as well as pay a penalty at prescribed percentage of undelivered vehicles, or return Rs62 million and pay interest at the market rate from 2007 to the date a decision is handed out.
She also prayed to the court to initiate criminal proceedings after comparison of documents submitted by the defendants. In another reference, Durrani on behalf of the education department prayed the NAB court to direct the owners of World Automobiles, Karachi to deliver Hinopak buses that the department placed orders for in 2007, or return Rs37 million as well as a fine. The third case was of auditing the accounts of the Sindh Textbook Board: Durrani had written a letter to NAB authorities to screen the audit. Subsequently, NAB had initiated an inquiry last week. Durrani had also taken strict action against illegal use of more than 20 vehicles of the education department by the personal staff of the minister. She had also taken notice of fake appointments in the Department, and the Anti-Corruption Department after completing its inquiry, had sent a case to the courts for further proceedings. A deputy secretary and former section officer of the department are behind bars in this case.