ISLAMABAD: The hiring firm selected by Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) to recruit eighty-seven officers, to please the high-ups in Iesco, forged the results of entry test of candidates to make them eligible for selection, documents available with The News reveal.
The inquiry report that made the basis of removal of Iesco Chief Executive Officer, narrates the ‘shocking’ tale as to how the results of pre-selected candidates were manipulated by M/s Resource Ltd in order to keep the Iesco people happy. The Ministry of Water and Power has directed Iesco to remove all the illegally hired officers and start the hiring process afresh to ensure transparency. The cases of officers involved in illegal hiring are being sent to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The documents state that results of entry test of some 36 candidates were changed by the hiring agency. “Answer sheets of all the candidates selected have been thoroughly checked with the keys provided by the Iesco. The results are shocking”, the inquiry report said. Details reveal that one Afshan obtained 15 marks as per her mark sheet while M/s Resource Access declared that she obtained 26 marks hence making her eligible for the post. Moreover, the documents say, one candidate obtained 30 marks, 5 obtained 28, one obtained 27 and 2 obtained 26 marks. As per short listing criteria, top 5 candidates were to be short listed according to which 5 candidates up to 28 marks could be shortlisted. Contrary to this, she was shortlisted and selected on the basis of 26 marks leaving candidates with 28 and 27 marks.
One Umar obtained only 13 marks in the test while the hiring agency showed he obtained 46 marks. Saqib obtained 45 marks while it was shown that he got 50 marks. Usama, Haseeb, Ahmad, Suleman, Mujahid, Wajahat, Waseem, Shahzad and Sheraz all selected as AM (CS/RO) have difference in their marks obtained and marks declared by M/s Resources Access Ltd.
Usama, Hashar, Asad, Hassan, Rizwan, Sarim, Jamil, Sheharyar, Shoaib, Yasir, Asma, Mehdi, Nighat, Jamshed, Mehwish, Mutahir, Majid, Marvi, Rizwan, Mansoor, Noor, Adnan and Musa also had differences in the marks declared and the marks obtained by them. Many of the above candidates were short-listed despite having less marks, the report said. It added that answer sheet of one Sheharyar was missing.
The inquiry report mentioned against each candidate hired by Iesco in connivance with the hiring agency that either he/she had less qualification or had less relevant experience.
The committee recommended action against Iesco ex-operation director, Addl Manager (MM) and Dy Manager (Services), a Deputationist from Intelligence Bureau, and Iesco Assistant Director (Confidential) are responsible for wrong evaluation of M/s Resource Access for pre-qualification and also for recommending award of contract to the firm against PPRA Rules. Nighat is responsible for not properly analysing/processing the recommendations of the evaluation committee to ascertain whether or not the recommendations made by the committee were according to the requirements of PPRA Rules.
Manager (HR) and DG (HR) are responsible for endorsing the recommendations of AM (HR) for approval without observing the legality or otherwise of the recommendations.
The inquiry report has recommended sending the case of hiring agency M/s Resource Access to NAB “for recovery of funds collected from innocent candidates who had to bear the loss of time, money and faced emotional stress due to unlawful and unethical recruitment process.”
“The Iesco Board of Directors cannot be absolved of their negligence and act of commission and omission towards the entire mega recruitment process.”
“All the line officers and officials of the HR department of Iesco involved in the instant illegal recruitment process and who had examined the relevant record and thereupon proposed approvals to their high ups may also be dealt with under the relevant disciplinary rules. Their cases may also be forwarded to the FIA for further investigation and fixing criminal charges against them”, the inquiry report concludes.
