February 12, 2002	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 28, 1422

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THATTA, Feb 11: On detection of misappropriation of around Rs800,000 in Education Works department, Thatta, by the Anti-Corruption Establishment following its recent raid on the office of district officer, Education Works department, the chief engineer, Buildings and Education Works, has ordered a departmental inquiry into the affair.

This was disclosed by Shafiq-ur-Rehman Khumbati, EDO, coordination for highways, education works and buildings, while talking to Dawn here on Monday.

He said that Wajid Ali Shaikh, the chief engineer had assigned Pervez Mughal, district officer, Building department, Mirpurkhas, to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

It is alleged that a senior clerk Abid Shaikh in connivance of some other officials of the department, through chicanery entries in the official repayment cheques of security deposits and receipts issued in the name of individual contractors drew Rs831,000 against the actual amount of the security deposits i.e. Rs49,846 of contractors.

When contacted Mohammad Murad Channa, circle officer, Anti- Corruption office, Thatta, said that the ACE officials had so far detected four such cheques of security deposits issued in the names of contractors Safdar Ali Shah, Khuda Bukhsh Palari and Abdul Majid Chohan signed by the cheque issuing authorities i.e. XEN Jamil Qureshi and district officer Ghalib Ali Shah.

Mr Channa believed that such frauds were in practice since long and it was apprehended the corrupt officials had rendered loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.

This correspondent also tried to seek comments of the chief engineer, Buildings and Education Works, at Hyderabad but was repeatedly told by his secretary that he was busy in praying.

When Thatta district treasury officer Samiullah Khan was asked why he passed such cheques, he replied that the responsibility lied with the issuing authority.