• Posting of ‘non-cadre’ officers in HDA raises eyebrows
• Acting DG Qazi says he will make sure no loss is accrued to Hyderabad Development Authority

HYDERABAD: The cash-strapped Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) is again at the mercy of non-cadre officers as the acting director general (DG) and director of planning & development control (P&DC) cannot hold these positions as per several Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court orders.

Sources said that the officers in question were allegedly brought at the behest of influential politicians to decide the fate of HDA’s pricey residential and commercial plots, measuring 400 to 1,000 square yards, which were auctioned in 2013 and subsequently cancelled by the HDA’s governing body.

They said that the plots might be restored at old rates sans fresh auction.

The sources said that Aslam Qazi, the acting DG of HAD, had given the charge as a stop-gap arrangement after HDA DG Asghar Ghanghro, a cadre officer, had been ‘asked’ to proceed on leave. His leave ended on July 25, but he again applied for leave for 10 more days after he was ‘asked’ by a ministerial level figure to go on leave.

When asked to comment by Dawn on Wednesday, Mr Ghanghro remained tight-lipped about it. He also avoided commenting as to why he proceeded on leave for another 10 days.

“His 10-day leave has not been approved and he is asked by the chief secretary to resume duties from Thursday,” said a source privy to the developments.

The acting DG Qazi is an officer of the Sindh Council Unified Grade (SCUG), who “has been parachuted” in the HDA as its secretary, the sources said.

“Mr Qazi can’t be given charge of acting DG as the post is part of cadre schedule of Sindh government,” said a source within the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department (SGACD).

According to an HDA source, as per rules among the senior most HDA officer can hold the position. “But Qazi was not only posted as secretary despite being SCUG officer, he was also given look after charge of DG’s post surprisingly in violation of SC and SHC judgements”, said another source.

After his posting, Mr Ghanghro had submitted a report to the Sindh local secretary, mentioning details of six officers of the HDA, including Majid Khokhar, Ghulam Rasool Junejo, Zulfiqar Ali Chandio, while spelling out his reasons for seeking disciplinary action against them.

His report said Khokhar was suspended but such order was held in abeyance.

Another government source told Dawn on Wednesday: “Yes, Majid Khokhar was suspended but then a query was raised that he was suspended sans inquiry. So, an inquiry against Khokhar is underway. Such report is to be submitted shortly.”

Like Mr Qazi, Mr Khokhar is also a SCUG officer and holds BS-19 post, as per Ghanghro’s report, on own pay scale (OPS) basis in violation the SC and the SHC orders.

While Mr Qazi’s notification for holding his look-after charge was issued on July 18, he had ‘assumed’ the charge of the post before this date and started exercising powers as fully fledged DG accordingly.

The then LG secretary, Najam Shah, through March 26, 2021 notification had cancelled “assignment of any charge on OPS basis, and additional and look-after charge(s)”, sources said.

Even when this notification was issued by Najam Shah, Ghulam Mohammad Kaimkhani had held additional or look-after charge of the same post. The practice goes unchecked to date.

Pricey plots

Acting DG and Director of P&DC are seized of pricey plots’ cancellation issue.

The HDA’s 117th governing body had approved cancellation of plots — after the plot owners didn’t clear remaining payments — and approved their fresh auction. A few of them, after seven years though, moved the Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit bench against cancellation. Even the SHC was surprised to note while observing “it beggars belief any person can be callous about property that they will neither inquire nor investigate status of their own property for a period of seven years especially considering the complete transfer of property was not yet concluded”.

These owners had paid only 25pc of plot’s bid money. “A mere assertion of ignorance regarding cancellation is insufficient,” the SHC said.

The court in its June 12, 2025 order said: “While we find petitioners’ case is on fragile footing, however, in interest of justice we dispose of petition with directives respondents HDA and others shall issue a fresh notice to provide them an opportunity for fair hearing. Upon receipt of notice, petitioners shall be entitled to submit their grievances before competent authority of respondents, who shall consider and decide matter strictly in accordance with law and pass a speaking order.”

An official privy with developments said: “Now the point is competent authority in this regard is the governing body which had cancelled the plots and allowed fresh auction whereas acting DG’s own posting is questionable in view of the apex court’s orders”.

“Vibes in HDA are it is not question of petitioners’ plot alone but involved interest of a political figure who owns a plot, cancelled and now worth in millions. Its restoration is also intended at older rates,” he added.

The acting DG, however, said: “I am competent authority being DG and I have to pass a speaking order as per high court’s judgement. I will make sure no loss is accrued by the HDA.”

He, however, was unable to answer when asked as to when his own position was questionable how could he take such an important decision at his level instead of referring the matter to the governing body for fresh auction as per new market rate.

The sources said he has also suspended two HDA officials in this regard for “putting up a note sheet, detailing factual position of the cancelled plots”.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2025