Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: 360 employees of EOBI who were employed illegally and against the rules were sacked from their jobs under the orders of Supreme Court (SC) but the vehicles, laptops and mobile phones valuing million of rupees provided to them have not been taken back.

Sources told Daily Times that then Chairman of EOBI Zafar Iqbal Gondal during previous PPP regime appointed hundreds of people in EOBI by allegedly grabbing millions of rupees as bribe. He also practised nepotism and favouritism and appointed his relatives against hefty salaries and perks and privileges in EOBI. PEPRA rules were breached blatantly in the process of recruitment.

Sources said that Gondal not only showered heavy salaries upon more than two hundreds officers of grade 17 to 19 but also provided them zero meter vehicles, lap tops and precious mobile phones. The Apex Court took suo motu notice and ordered for sacking these employees. The SC orders were complied with they were terminated but the vehicles, laptops and mobile phones were not withdrawn from them.

A cell was set up in Karachi which was tasked with collecting vehicles and other equipment from these employees. But this cell did nothing except serving notices on them and later this cell went dysfunctional.

Sources told Daily Times that these employees have flatly refused to return the vehicles and lap top saying that they have paid money several times more than the price of these vehicles and lap tops to Zafar Gondal and other officers. EOBI chairman’s staff officer Hamid Rana told Daily Times that a cell was established under grade 20 officer to take back vehicles, laptops and other equipments from these sacked employees. Some employees returned the vehicles but a larger number of these former employees have refused to return them.