MULTAN, April 24: The Multan Development Authority high-ups have sent a chargesheet to the National Accountability Bureau against a Wasa official for his alleged involvement in massive corruption and malpractices.

In a correspondence with NAB titled 'good governance', the MDA authorities have levelled 17 different accusations against SDO Muhammad Tahir Rauf and urged the NAB to take a stern action against him.

However, this is not the first time that MDA authorities have sought helps from the NAB against an alleged building mafia comprising some MDA officials as the earlier cases bore no results.

Living an ostentatious life beyond his legal means of income and establishing two construction companies - the Allied Associates and the Builders - are also the accusations listed in the chargesheet. The accused official and his partners also work as real property dealers through the two firms.

It is alleged that despite being the junior most SDO, he also managed to win over the officiating charge of the XEN office through manipulations by some political influential figure.

He also launched at least three housing colonies despite getting them approved from the relevant authorities and used his position in MDA and Wasa to win over people's confidence for his housing ventures.

The official also purchased three MDA plots at a prime location near the Multan Arts Council in an auction without bringing into the knowledge of his department.

By misusing his powers, he provided space to the Nespak to house its office in Wasa's Hassan Parwana office and in return secured a job for one of his close relatives from the engineering company. Sufferers are now the Wasa workers, who have to work either in veranda or in the open.

The MDA authorities have also accused him of misappropriating funds allocated for installation of Wasa's consumer number plates. He also installed substandard pumps at the Old Shujaabad disposal station through a contract he managed to get for his firm, the Builders. The then XEN Sajid Bokhari had refused to release payment for the substandard disposal pumps, but XEN Rauf Tahir released the payment.

In 1997, the then provincial housing and urban development minister had ordered his termination on public complaints but his influential patrons had come to his rescue.In 1998, the then MDA director general had written a letter to the ACE for action against his five subordinates including Tassaduq Hussain, Everest John, Salim Shakir, Tahir Rauf and Qasim Bin Sarwar for developing unauthorized housing colonies under cover of the so-called MDA Officers Association.

The DG had alleged that the officials misused MDA resources and manpower to develop the colonies for their personal gains.

The DG had informed the ACE that though he had served show-cause notice on all the officials, their replies were evasive. He said now they were exerting pressure on him through influential political figures to withdraw the notices.

Last year, MDA's director (inquiries) Chaudhry Muhammad Tayyab after an inquiry had recommended major penalty against the SDO under the Removal from Services (special powers) Ordinance, 2000.

Fruit seller: A fruit vendor was clubbed to death here on Saturday over a trivial issue.

Faqir Muhammad, 55, used to sell fruits on a push-cart after procuring them from the local market. On Saturday morning, he was taking part in biding for a melon stock at the shop of a broker.

He successfully bade for the stock. However, salesmen Bashir reportedly refused to hand him over the crate at the bidding price. When Faqir Muhammad protested against their attitude, Bashir reportedly hit him with a hockey stick killing him on the spot.

Later, scores of vendors protested against the death of their colleague. They went up to the New Multan police station and demanded arrest of the accused.

Police have registered a case against the absconding accused on the report of Faqir's son Sadiq.

He was the father of 11 children, including nine daughters. His wife had died a few months ago.