Zero-tolerance drive against corruption: 12 Civil Defence personnel dismissed, 37 suspended

LAHORE: Punjab Home department has initiated decisive action within the Civil Defence Punjab. Setting a strong example of internal accountability, the Director Civil Defence Punjab has dismissed 12 personnel from service, suspended 37 officers and officials, and transferred 7 officers over allegations of corruption, misconduct and inefficiency.

Those dismissed from service include Farman Ullah from Sargodha; Naveed from Khushab; Muhammad Irshad and Nasir Iqbal from Multan; Asghar from Lodhran; Group Wardens Rehman Maqbool and Hamza Bilal Butt from Gujranwala; Aman Ullah and Faizan from Hafizabad; Sharif from Narowal; and Bashir Ahmad and Shabbir Ahmad from Bahawalpur.

Letters have been issued to the Deputy Commissioners of Sargodha, Khushab, Multan, Lodhran, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Bahawalpur and Narowal for implementation of the dismissal orders. Similarly, 37 Civil Defence officers and officials have been suspended across Punjab over allegations of corruption, misconduct and inefficiency.

The suspended officials include Shakeeb Ahmad, Civil Defence Officer, Rahim Yar Khan; Assistants Sardar Ali, Sana Ullah, Muhammad Kamran and Shah Nawaz from Vehari, Sialkot, Khushab and Sahiwal, respectively; and Senior Clerks Muhammad Altaf and Muhammad Qasim from Narowal and Gujranwala, respectively. Nine Chief Instructors and 15 Instructors have also been suspended. The suspended Chief Instructors include Suleman from Toba Tek Singh, Muhammad Shakoor from Faisalabad, Muhammad Altaf from Okara, Ghulam Rabbani from Sahiwal, Aqeel Gul from Rahim Yar Khan, Kashif Masood from Vehari, Hafiz Muhammad Zakariya from Narowal, Muhammad Yousaf from Mandi Bahauddin and Bilal Ahsan from Kasur. The suspended Instructors include Muhammad Bilal from Mianwali; Chiragh Din from Kasur; Muhammad Shahid and Mudassar Liaqat from Sheikhupura; Sohail Pervaiz from Lahore; Asif Ali from Vehari; Muhammad Zaman from Gujranwala; Muhammad Irfan and Muhammad Mustansar from Faisalabad; Raheel Ajmal from Sargodha; Asif Ali and Muhammad Abu Bakar from Sialkot; Mubashir Ali from Sahiwal; Ahmad Faizan from Rahim Yar Khan; and Sadaf Zahoor from Rawalpindi. Other suspended personnel include Rescue Leader Muhammad Aslam from Multan, Rescuer Nasir Mahmood from Rawalpindi, First Aider Qamar Altaf from Multan, Driver Ashfaq Ahmad from Multan, Naib Qasid Muhammad Waris from Jhang, and Sanitary Worker Sohail Masih from Gujrat. The Director Civil Defence has issued suspension orders and initiated disciplinary proceedings under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEDA) Act.

The suspended officers and officials have been directed to report to the Civil Defence Punjab Headquarters. As part of the ongoing process of internal accountability, seven Civil Defence officers have also been transferred due to long tenures at their respective postings and administrative requirements.

Syeda Sehrish Irshad, Civil Defence Officer Muzaffargarh, has been transferred and posted as Civil Defence Officer Vehari. Muhammad Rehan, Civil Defence Officer Vehari, has been posted as Civil Defence Officer Bahawalnagar. Muhammad Abbas, Civil Defence Officer Faisalabad, has been posted as Civil Defence Officer Sahiwal, while Muhammad Adnan Qaiser, Civil Defence Officer Sahiwal, has been posted as Civil Defence Officer Okara. Muhammad Iqbal Javaid, Civil Defence Officer Okara, has been posted as Civil Defence Officer Faisalabad. Sidra Yasin Rana, Civil Defence Officer (Civil Secretariat), Lahore, has been posted as Chief Staff Officer at the Directorate of Civil Defence Punjab, while Farhana Aziz, Civil Defence Officer Sialkot, has been posted as Civil Defence Officer (Civil Secretariat), Lahore. According to the spokesperson for the Punjab Home department, the Chief Secretary Punjab had directed all heads of departments to ensure effective internal and departmental accountability. The Punjab Home department remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, inefficiency, and violations of the law.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026