Daily Times

KARACHI: It seems that the authorities in Sindh are reluctant to take action against 13,000 illegal appointments in the Local Government department, despite the fact that the administrative department has recommended action against these employees after thorough verification, it is learnt.

The insiders have told Daily Times that the Local Government department had prepared a detailed list of 13,000 political appointments and the list was forwarded to the Chief Secretary for further action. However, the chief secretary returned the summary ordering one more verification process, sources revealed.

According to sources, the NAB has also investigated the case and has arrested absconding former secretary Local Government department of Sindh, who a blue-eyed boy of PPP leaders Aga Siraj Durrani and Owais Muzaffar Tapi for his involvement in the illegal appointments.

“He was already an absconder in two cases he is also being charged of making illegal assets worth Rs 330 million. The former secretary was also wanted into another case of conducting 12,800 illegal appointments in LG department.

The officials of the Local Government department have also recorded confessional statements informing that investigators that former Sindh Minister for Local Government Aga Siraj Durrani, who is currently Speaker Sindh Assembly, forced them for forging around 12,800 illegal appointments in the Local Government department.

The confessional statements were made by at least 23 officers of the Local Government Department who were summoned by Investigation Officer of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sabih Rafay at bureau’s headquarters.

The sources said that the provincial exchequer is suffering loss of millions of rupees under the head of salaries being paid to these illegal appointed persons, adding that the PPP government will not remove these political appointees.