Four Sindh LG officers enjoying perks despite conviction on corruption charges

KARACHI: Despite being convicted of causing heavy loss to the national kitty, as many as four officers of Sindh’s local government departments are enjoying key positions even after serving sentence.

Among these officers, Muhammad Ehsan, a grade 18 officer, is waiting for posting at KMC, Razi ur Rehman is posted as Deputy Director, Education TMC Kiamari, Muhammad Saleem is posted as Deputy Director Education, TMC, Korangi and Mirza Jeelani Baig is posted as Deputy Director Education TMC, Landhi. These officers were booked by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Corporate Banking Circle (CBC) in 2015 for making illegal appointments and then disbursing heavy amounts as salaries to bogus employees with the connivance of each other as well as bank staff.

The Special Court (Offences in Banking) Sindh convicted all of them in 2017 and awarded 10 years sentence with Rs1 million fine each. The decision was upheld by Sindh High Court in 2020, however, the sentence was commuted to five years.

FIA nominated these officers under sections 409, 468, 471, 477-A, 109, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 5(2) sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1974.

As per service laws and rules, any person, employee or officer becomes ineligible after the conviction for any government service or any official position forever till he has been proven innocent by the upper forum.

However, all four officers enjoyed their official positions, drew salaries, got promotions and remained on jobs during their imprisonment and after the completion of their sentences.

Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani told The News that an inquiry would be conducted against these officers and if they were found guilty, strict action would be taken against them. The scribe approached the secretary, Sindh Local Government, Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi and all four convicted officers for their versions but they avoided commenting on the issue.