PESHAWAR: The members of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) Officers Association said here on Thursday that they would resist the ‘conspiracy’ to remove the chief executive officer of the entity.

According to a statement, an emergency general body meeting of Pedo Officers Association was held wherein serious concerns were shown over interfere in the working of the organisation and levelling of false allegations against its top management through various inquiries.

The participants of the meeting said that such steps were meant to weaken a developed organisation like Pedo. They appreciated Pedo chief Engineer Mohammad Naeem Khan for solving the longstanding problems of employees by approving service rules for them from the cabinet.

They said that during his tenure, several energy projects were successfully completed that brought additional income of billions of rupees to the provincial kitty annually. They added that many energy projects were near completion. They decided to hold protests, go on strike and lock power plants if the Pedo chief was removed from his post illegally through any conspiracy. They said that the responsibility of any untoward incident would rest with the provincial administration.

The participants of the meeting also paid tributes to the senior officials of the energy and power department, who continued to resist illegal actions and interference in the affairs of the organisation. They said that posting and deputation of outsiders should be stopped immediately and important responsibilities should be assigned to the competent officers of the organisation.

Earlier last month, Election Commission of Pakistan through a letter had directed the energy and power department to remove Mohammad Naeem Khan. In the letter addressed to the chief secretary, ECP said that it had come to know that Mr Khan had political affiliations and was a politically-motivated person.

“Being an administrative officer, he is influencing the people of the areas of Malakand division where Pedo projects are being executed,” it said.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2023