PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) on Monday filed a reference with an ehtesab court against provincial minister for mines and mineral development Ziaullah Afridi and three officers of the department over the alleged misuse of power for illegal appointments, transfers and postings.

The reference was filed with ehtesab judge Hayat Ali Shah by additional deputy prosecutor general Barrister Qazi Babar Irshad, who insisted the four suspects had misused their office by carrying out around 90 illegal appointments, postings and transfers in the department.

Apart from Ziaullah Afridi, the three other suspects in the case are mines and mineral development department secretary Mian Waheeduddin, director general Dr Liaquat Ali and administrator Mir Zaman.

Except Mian Waheeduddin, all suspects have been arrested by the commission.

Ziaullah has been in custody of the commission and will be produced before the ehtesab court on Aug 4.


Mines minister, three officials face charge of misuse of power for illegal appointments, transfers and postings


Dr Liaquat and Mir Zaman were produced before the ehtesab judge on Monday after completion of their physical remand and were sent to judicial lock-up by the court.

A petition of Mian Waheeduddin against the KPEC Act 2014 as well as the commission’s inquiry against him has been pending with the Peshawar High Court.

For the time being, the court has stopped the commission from proceeding against the petitioner.

Barrister Babar Irshad told Dawn that the commission had been probing several other issues related to suspects, including those facing the charge of illegal mining in different areas.

He said if the charges proved against suspects, then separate other references would be submitted against them.

The additional deputy prosecutor general said the court would later decide about the schedule of initial hearing into the reference.

EX-MINISTER SENT TO JAIL: An accountability court on Monday sent former provincial minister Nawabzada Mehmood Zeb and nine other officials to prison after completion of their physical remand with the National Accountability Bureau in a case of misuse of authority during the award of lucrative mining contract to a female schoolteacher.

The NAB, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleged that as a minister for technical education, industries and mineral department in the previous provincial government, Mehmood Zeb, a PPP leader, had misused his authority in connivance with nine other people for the illegal allotment of 500 acres of proven deposit of phosphate to a female schoolteacher, Rukhsana Javed.

It added that the allottee later illegally excavated phosphate in collaboration with the first cousin of the minister, Ehtishamul Mulk, causing a loss of Rs360 million to the national exchequer.

The other nine arrested suspects are then secretary technical education and minerals Shah Wali Khan; then additional secretary of the department Asmatullah Khan Ghandapur, presently serving as commissioner Bannu division; section officer Farhad Ali; deputy director of the department Khan Badshah; geologist at the directorate of mines and minerals Nauroze Khan; senior inspector of mines presently serving as commissioner mines Ziarat Khan; then director licensing of minerals department Shakirullah; assistant director (litigation) of mineral department Pervaiz Khan, and assistant director Ehtishamul Mulk.

A NAB prosecutor produced before the court 10 suspects, who were arrested on July 9, after completion of their physical remand.

He asked the court for their further remand to complete investigation into the case. The court declined the plea and sent suspects to the Peshawar Central Prison on judicial remand.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...