Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Indecisiv-eness is hampering the smooth functioning and day-to-day affairs at the Directorate of Estate Management-II as the post of its director is lying vacant for the last three months, but the higher ups of the authority have failed to decide something about the vacant position so far, which is adding further confusion.

The Directorate of Estate Management-II is one of the most important and powerful formation of the civic body as it deals with all matters relating to allotment and transfer of non-residential plots of all categories such as commercial plots, markets, government residences, embassies, luxury flats, economy flats, government schools/colleges, hotels, motels, CNG & petrol pumps, agriculture land, industries, poultry forms, vegetables and whole sale markets, industrial plots etc.

According to details, the post of Director Estate Management-II, is lying vacant for the last three months, when its former occupant Malik Azhar Kursheed, refused to continue working on the said position due to his personal reasons. He also informed in writing to the higher management of the authority in this regard.

It is pertinent to mention here that Malik Azhar Kursheed was not a permanent director as he is working on the seat of Director, Estate Management-I (West), which deals with residential plots, but the administration had given him a “look after charge” of the said post, additionally, in 2015. After the refusal of Malik Azhar, the higher ups instead of deciding the fate of the vacant post, adopted silence; whereas, the Deputy Director General Estate and Land (DDG L&A), Abdul Islam Shah, was signing the urgent files in absence of the director.

A sources inside the CDA briefed Daily Times that Malik Azhar Kursheed was on leave, but now he had joined his permanent office, but was avoiding to look after the affairs of the Estate Management-II.

The situation became more complex when Abdul Islam Shah, also took a strict stance and directed his staff to not entertain any file related to the said directorate in future, by arguing that he did not have any official information that Malik Azhar was no more on the seat.

A sources said further; “the DDG land showed his anger and said; “why Malik Azhar is not doing his job while he is available in the office and he has the additional charge of the said directorate.”

When contacted, Malik Azhar Kursheed avoided to respond directly and only said that he had the additional charge for only three months and he completed this term, which did not get renewed further by the higher ups. Responding to a question as to why he left the additional charge, he responded; “I cannot carry dual charges due to some personal reasons.”

The matter is not so simple as a well-placed source inside the directorate briefed Daily Times that Malik Azhar Kursheed was a honest officer and he wanted to deal all maters in accordance with the law as he took a hard stance on issues based on principles, but the higher ups of the CDA had failed to back the director, which annoyed him.

It is not only one directorate, but the whole estate wing, which is facing a similar situation and it is also working in the absence of its permanent head; whereas, the Member Planning and Design of the Authority, Waseem Ahmed Khan, has the additional charge of the Estate Wing.

Although, a large number of important posts are vacant in the Authority, but the higher ups should take the matters seriously and they should appoint officers on additional charges to avoid uncertainty.