KARACHI, Nov 25: The Sindh Ombudsman, Justice Haziqul Khairi, directed on Saturday the secretary education to get FIR registered against the sub- divisional education officer (SDEO), Nawabshah, for misappropriation of the gratuity provident fund of a schoolteacher.

The ombudsman took action on the complaint filed by a teacher of Government Girls Primary School, Nawabshah, Ms Shamim Ara, accusing Ms Sahibzadi Memon, SDEO, Nawabshah, and others of misappropriation of her GP Fund amounting to Rs33,500.

She also alleged that the funds of 21 other teachers were also misappropriated. According to the complainant, all the accused fraudulently withdrew the amount of her GP Fund from the government treasury by getting forged GP Fund account number and slips from the office of the Accountant- General Sindh in her name in her service book.

The ombudsman observed that it was a prima-facie case of embezzlement and directed the secretary education to lodge FIR against those accused by the complainant, in addition to any other action which might be taken against them under the law.

The secretary education ordered an inquiry and later dismissed from service Sahibzadi Memon, Mushtaq Ahmed, head clerk, and Farzand Ali, junior clerk. An FIR has been registered against them and the embezzled amount has also been recovered from them.—APP