26 corruption cases detected in Railways since 2008, Senate told | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

26 corruption cases detected in Railways since 2008, Senate told

By: Mumtaz Alvi

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour has told the Senate that as many as 26 cases of financial and administrative mismanagement were detected in the loss-making organisation since 2008.

Investigations are underway in 18 cases while four of these cases have been referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for further investigation. These four cases also include a case against a female officer in BPS-18. Two officers face probe for misappropriation of flood relief goods, received from Turkey.

In a written reply, the minister informed the house in the session, prorogued Friday that instructions had been issued for crackdown on corruption in the entire Pakistan Railways system.

Explaining the cases of corruption and mismanagement, the minister said Zahoor-ul-Haq (BPS-20) was facing inquiry since 2009 for committing irregularities and making irregular payment without verification to a firm. He is ex-chief controller of Purchase, Pakistan Railways, Lahore. Fawad Inam Cheema (BPS-19), who served as deputy chief controller of Stores, Lahore, committed irregularities and made irregular payments without verification to the same firm. A report was finalised against him and for a period of three years, he was posted on a lower position.

Similarly, Anthony Roy (BPS-19), who was deputy chief mechanical engineer Development, Lahore was dismissed from service. He faces same charges and later these were proved in an inquiry report.

Abdul Waqas (BPS-18), ex-senior mechanical officer, Fuel, Lahore also was found guilty of financial irregularities and mismanagement: as a penalty, his increment has been withheld for five years from December 2011.

The minister noted that Yahya Jan (BPS-18), who was divisional mechanical engineer, Rawalpindi, was subjected to a nominal punishment by withholding his increment for one year. He was found to be involved in committing irregularities and making irregular payment without verification to the same firm.

Ex-district controller of Purchase, Lahore, Imran Azim (BPS-18) also committed the same crime and as penalty, he was reversed to a lower post. Another official in same grade Muhammad Ali Chachar was accused of taking bribe for making appointments in Sukkur Division and was facing probe.

Muhammad Zulqarnain (BPS-18), divisional personnel officer, Pakistan Railways Workshops, Moghalpura, was exonerated in misappropriation of funds in the capacity of additional cantonment executive officer, Chaklala Cantonment.

Asif Mateen Zaidi (BPS-19), ex-project director, involved in Quaidabad projects of Railcopp was also facing investigation. Muhammad Saeed Khan (BPS-18) failed to collect and deposit an amount of Rs15 million in 12 equal monthly instalments in connection with toll tax from Khushalgarh Bridge from contractors: probe report against him is awaited.

Cases against Bilal Sarwar Chaudhry (BPS-18), Fatima Bilal (BPS-18), officers and officials of Railways, Rawalpindi Division (theft of radiators from Loco Shed), Railways officers and officials (irregularities in rehabilitation of 36 GMU-30 locomotives) have been referred to NAB. Bilal Sarwar and Fatima Bilal face probe for misappropriation/embezzlement of funds in PRACS in case of flood relief goods received from Turkey.

Maryam Gilani, Aqeel Yousaf, Haroon Rashid, Dr Nadir Ayub Wazir, Muhammad Khalid Khan, M Saeed Khan, Salman Farooq, Yasin Ahmad, Khalid Mohiuddin, Abdul Waqas, Shafiq Ahmad Randhawa and Rasheed Imtiaz Siddiqui are also either facing probe or probe has been completed.

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