ISLAMABAD: The managing director (MD) of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), Zargham Eshaq Khan, on Wednesday, informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that a senior official had been suspended over corruption charges.

Khan, who appeared in the contempt of court matter before IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, said Ali Zulfiqar Kiyani, the general manager (GM) of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), was suspended, on Tuesday, over an alleged embezzlement of Rs76.6 million and disciplinary action against him had also commenced.

The contempt petition was filed by some Iesco officials, through advocate Kashifa Niaz, against MD Pepco for not complying with the IHC order passed earlier this year.

In February, Justice Siddiqui issued the order for the commencement of the disciplinary proceedings against the Iesco GM for his alleged corruption.

As per details of the case, the Iesco authorities, in August last year, after the receipt of some complaints against Kiyani, started an inquiry against him.

The findings of the departmental inquiry, however, had not been made public until the Iesco officials filed a petition in the IHC, in February, this year. Justice Siddiqui, disposing of the petition, directed Iesco and Pepco authorities to take action against the accused officer within a month.

Last week, the judge, during the hearing of contempt of court petition, observed that the authorities did not follow the court’s direction and summoned the MD Pepco to appear in person.

After the court was informed about the suspension of GM Kiyani, the judge directed the MD Pepco to complete the disciplinary proceedings against the officer and submit the report to the IHC registrar within 90 days.