NAROWAL: An inquiry has been started under the Peeda Act 2006 against six senior officials, including former Narowal DCO Syed Najaf Iqbal and ex-EDO (finance & planning) Muhammad Iqbal for misconduct, inefficiency, corrupt and fraudulent practices in the procurement of furniture for schools in Narowal district.

The accused were members of the district purchase committee (DPC) in 2014.

The Punjab Education secretary, on receiving complaints regarding corruption and malpractices in the purchase of furniture, had ordered an inquiry last month on the direction of the chief minister.

The ex-DCO had allegedly got transferred funds given to the school management councils for the purchase of furniture to the DPC constituted by him as chairman.

It comprised Yasin Virk, the then DEO secondary, Muhammad Iqbal, the then EDO (F&P), Muhammad Ashraf, the then district monitoring officer, Muhammad Aslam Qureshi, instructor Govt College of Technology, Sialkot, and Inamullah, chief instructor, College of Technology, Sialkot.

As per complaints, the committee had violated rules and regulations for prequalification of firms and selected a firm of its choice for supply of furniture and purchased furniture at a very high price. The ex-DCO and other members of the committee had been found guilty in the initial inquiry.

As per an instance mentioned in the allegation, the price of a student chair in market was up to Rs1,850 while the purchase committee purchased 26,500 chairs of the same quality from a firm M/s Asif Ali & Co for Rs2,795 per piece.

The committee had purchased furniture worth Rs74 million and misappropriated about Rs25 million in collusion with M/s Asif Ali & Co.

As per chargesheet, the ex-DCO and other members of the purchase committee have been found guilty of misconduct, inefficiency, corrupt and fraudulent practices regarding procurement of furniture for schools in Narowal.

Therefore, the chief minister being the competent authority has ordered a formal inquiry under the Peeda Act against the officials and appointed Nadeem Irshad Kiyani (PAS) Secretary MPDD, as inquiry officer and directed him to submit his findings and recommendations within 60 days.

Narowal EDO Education Ghias Sabir said inquiry had been started. He said the accused had been told to submit their written replies and appear personally before the inquiry officer on Sept 22.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2016