KOHAT: The anti-corruption department, Kohat division, on Wednesday arrested a retired executive officer of the public health engineering department, Hangu, for making bogus appointments and embezzling funds.

The retired executive engineer (XEN), Naitmatullah, was arrested from the courtyard of Hangu courts in a case of bogus appointments when the court accepted his bail before arrest application in a case related to embezzlement of funds meant for Tora Warai water scheme.

Mr Naimatullah had allegedly caused a loss of over one million rupees to the government by making bogus appointments and withdrawing the salary himself. Sources said that the XEN had allegedly released Rs12.5 million to a contractor, Naeem Khan of Tora Warai scheme, who had abandoned the scheme before completing it.

Assistant director anti-corruption department, Kohat, Ali Hassan said that the XEN had sanctioned all bills of the contractor, who later fled with the money. Retired XEN communication and works Ziaur Rehman, engineering staff of public health and former XEN Mubarik Hussain Bokhari are among others wanted in the same case.

Secures bail before arrest in water project case

A case has been registered against Mr Naimatullah and investigations are underway against other officials for abetting in corruption.

LACHI PROBLEMS: The Lachi tehsil of Kohat has become a hub of problems due to absence of municipal facilities and lethargy of officials.

Sources said that the post of tehsil municipal engineer had been vacant from the last one year and junior engineers are taking care of work in Lachi as well as Takht-i-Nasrati and as such could not concentrate on their job.

The residents of Lachi have complained that faulty streetlights, overflowing sewer lines and shortage of drinking water were among their main problems.

They said that the sanitary staff and other officials had been withdrawing salaries while sitting at homes.

They complained that high officials sitting in Kohat should visit the Lachi tehsil to order on the spot resolution of people’s problems instead of issuing orders from offices.

Meanwhile, the municipal workers in Kohat, Hangu and Karak districts have announced to observe strike on Thursday (today) to press the government for acceptance of their demands, including promotion and raise in salary.

The Kohat TMA employees’ union has also demanded reinstatement of sanitary inspector Sohail.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2014