News Desk |
The anti-corruption watchdog, NAB (Rawalpindi) has initiated an inquiry against 25 officers of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), sources said on Thursday. The action was taken on the directions of the Punjab government.
The sources said that as many as 25 officers of grade BS-17 to BS-21 were inducted during the PML-N government’s tenure. They said that the PML-N local leaders were behind their hiring and violating the merit.
There are at least four testing services operational in the country. The officers who applied for the aforementioned have to clear one of these tests.
The probe will be initiated in different departments; however, the anti-corruption unit has initiated it from Rawalpindi Parks and Horticulture department. The NAB will investigate into the hiring which was allegedly influenced by former member National Assembly Malik Abrar and former Director General PHA Aqeel Ahmed Khan.
The inquiry will be made against BS-17 to BS-20 grade officers of the department. Following the probe, all record has been taken into custody by Assistant Director Investigation Mudassr Kaifi and Deputy Director Technical Shoaib Mir.
Read more: Illegal recruitments scam: NAB Arrests ex-PU VC, five registers
The sources said that the PML-N Rawalpindi leader Malik Abrar had allegedly used his influence to fill higher posts in the department. The hiring was made throughput exams rather than PPSC.
They further said exam papers were also out before the exam day. There are at least four testing services operational in the country. The officers who applied for the aforementioned have to clear one of these tests.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in a press conference held last week had expressed his government’s commitment to uprooting corruption from the country.
Similar investigations are also underway against several other departments where sources state that illegal appointments were made to facilitate mega corruption carried out in the previous government’s tenure.
The incumbent leader of PML-N is already under NAB’s custody and the opening of such cases is set to exacerbate pressure on Shahbaz Sharif.
Read more: NAB in the docket – Saad Rasool
Prime Minister Imran Khan in a press conference held last week had expressed his government’s commitment to uprooting corruption from the country and reiterated that the corrupt mafia will be brought to justice.