MULTAN: Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Director-General Husain Asghar has asked the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) secretary to withdraw the posting of newly-posted Multan ACE director Muhammad Afzal Nasir Khan for he used political connections for his posting.

Mr Khan who was serving additional deputy commissioner (revenue), Rajanpur, was posted the Multan ACE director on Dec 9, subject to verification of his conduct by the ACE by replacing Amjad Shoaib Khan Tareen, who was made officer on special duty.

Mr Asghar wrote that Mr Khan served assistant director (investigation) and deputy director (admin) in the ACE and after his repatriation, he received references from government departments for requisition of services of Mr Khan for his posting in the ACE. “It is evident that his posting in the ACE will mar the good image of the government of Punjab. His services are not required by this establishment,” he added.

DG requests govt to withdraw Multan director’s posting

He stated that the provincial government on October 14, 2018 has directed that no government servant will bring political and extraneous pressure in respect of service matters and choice posting.

“Since he has a reputation of conduct unbecoming of an officer and uses political connection for posting in ACE, it is requested that notification of Muhammad Afzal Nasir Khan (PMS/Ex-PCE-18) may be withdrawn/cancelled in the public interest,” the letter concluded.

Sources said that a delegation of parliamentarians, led by an MPA from Muzaffargarh, had asked the chief minister to replace Mr Tareen with Mr Khan.

They said that on the direction of chief minister, services and general administration department transferred Mr Tareen and posted Mr Khan on Sunday despite the fact usually such transfers take place on working days and only the transfers/postings of emergent nature are done on days off.

They said that first time two officers of ACE were posted without the verification of their conduct and antecedents as usually this step is taken before the posting. Another officer Hafiz Ahmed Tariq was also posted the Dera Ghazi Khan director without verification of his conduct.

They said that Mr Asghar first contacted the S&GAD secretary and expressed his displeasure over the transfer of Mr Tareen but he was informed that the action was taken on the direction of the chief minister.

They said that on Tuesday Mr Asghar held a meeting with chief minister and briefed him about the transfer of Mr Tareen.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2018