Just two days before the expiry of a two-year contract as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Engineering Development Board (EDB), Tariq Ejaz Chaudhry has been accused of making the irregular posting of his "all weather tested" friend as General Manager (Policy).
The appointment of Tariq Ejaz is already challenged in Islamabad High Court (IHC) on grounds that he does not possess the requisite qualifications and experience for the post. He has however reapplied for the same slot. The Ministry of Industries and Production has not yet short-listed candidates and it is expected that an additional charge of the post will be assigned to a senior officer of the Ministry till the hiring process is completed.
The Auditor General Office conducted the audit of EDB affair in November, 2016 and held the appointment of CEO, EDB as irregular. Furthermore, the audit team booked 31 audit paras pertaining to administrative and financial irregularities, which include recovery of about Rs 3.6 million from CEO, EDB on account of illegal financial benefits approved and drawn by him.
The administrative Ministry of Industries & Production neither checked the recent violations and gross financial irregularities nor issued any orders of inquiry or recovery of the huge amount from him which, analysts argue, implies that it will let him leave scot-free on expiry of his service tenure on March 30, 2017(today).
As per office order of March 28, 2017, who was promoted as DGM just a year ago, has been assigned current charge of higher post of General Manager (Policy Department). The rules for assigning of current charge of higher post, however, clearly provide that "the current charge of a higher post, can be given only to those persons who fulfill eligibility conditions for regular promotion to that higher post". The other condition for current charge assignment is that the post should be vacant. But in this case, the charge of Policy Department was earlier held by a regular General Manager. The CEO first took the charge of this department himself and after waiting a couple of months, assigned it to his favoured DGM. Hence the post was technically not vacant.
On the other hand, Tariq Ejaz approved long leave to one Mudassar Iqbal, General Manager EDB when he was appointed as head of NIP, Karachi whereas rules clearly direct that in case of fresh/regular appointment, the government servant has to resign from his current post, before he assumes duty on new appointment. Iqbal is still enjoying the post of CEO, NIP, while simultaneously holding his post of General Manager in EDB.
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