ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Division on Sunday suspended a BS-20 officer, Zarar Haider Khan, after it was found that he stole the wallet of an official of the Kuwaiti delegation that arrived in the country to attend the two-day Pakistan-Kuwait Joint Ministerial Commission meeting.
The notification issued in this regard read, “Zarar Haider Khan (PAS/BP20) Joint Secretary, M/o Industries and Production, Islamabad, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect and until further orders.”
On Friday, head of the Kuwaiti delegation, after the meeting, complained that he had lost his wallet, following which the CCTV footage of the room was checked. The footage showed Joint Secretary Zarar Haider Khan stealing the Kuwaiti official’s belongings.
Taking notice of the incident, Economics Affairs Division (EAD) Secretary Ghazanfer Gilani instructed the officers concerned to register an FIR against the 13th common DMG officer in the PS Secretariat Islamabad and he was later arrested. A legal action against him is reportedly underway.
“All officers of the Ministry of Industries and Economics Affairs Division, as well as other participants, were shocked when the head of the Kuwaiti mission complained about the incident,” said an official of the Finance Ministry.
“This is a very unfortunate development that has brought a bad name to the country as well as the officers working here,” he added.
Another officer claimed that Zarar Haider had a good reputation among his colleagues. “No one could have expected such a thing from him,” he said.
The spokesperson of the finance ministry refused to comment on the issue while EAD secretary was unavailable
