GUJRAT, Oct 11: An education official who was declared `not fit for any administrative post’ and proven guilty of Rs1.5 million embezzlement has been posted as principal of Zamindara College after being given a three-year extension in his service by the Punjab government.

It has been learnt that Prof Mufti Abdul Aziz was found guilty of around Rs1.5 million embezzlement by the Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE), Punjab Education department and some other government agencies in 1998 when he was principal of Government Sir Syed College Railway Road, on the written complaint filed by his successor Prof Tariq Rathore.

Sources said after being found guilty of the embezzlement, the Mufti was arrested by the ACE and could only manage his release after depositing Rs1.5 million back in the official account.

Later, the education department not only suspended him from the service but also declared him not fit for holding any administrative office.

The sources said corruption allegations were also levelled against the Mufti earlier when he was principal of the Government Degree College Jallal Pur Jattan. However, the charges could not be proven as the case was dumped for unknown reasons, they added.

Strangely, the Mufti was again appointed as an acting principal of Science College GT Road after it was merged with the Sir Syed College Railway Road in violation of rules and regulations. He was soon transferred to the newly-established University of Gujrat but the vice-chancellor, Dr Nizamud Din, relieved Mufti from the varsity by saying his services were not required.

According to the sources, the Mufti has been granted three-year extension in the service on the recommendation of none other than the Punjab Education Minister Mian Imran Masood after his case was reportedly approved by Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.