Anti-corruption dept stopped from probing Sindh Zakat, Ushr issues

KARACHI: Chairman Sindh Zakat Council and former caretaker chief minister Justice (r) Zahid Qurban Alvi has restrained the Sindh anti-corruption department, the only accountability body of province, from investigating or holding any inquiry of the Sindh Zakat and Ushr department.
According to the official correspondence available with The News, Zahid Qurban Alvi wrote a letter to the authorities of Sindh anti-corruption department directing them not to hold any inquiry or investigation regarding complains about the Sindh Zakat and Ushr department.
He argued that under the Zakat and Ushr Act, Anti-Corruption department could not hold any inquiry.Sources in the Sindh anti-corruption department told The News that due to the orders of chairman Alvi, anti-corruption department is unable to investigate the complaints of corruption in Zakat and Ushr department.
According to the rules of business of Sindh Government, anti-corruption department could hold inquiry and investigate the matters of corruption in any department of Sindh government and it did not need any permission from the head of any department.
Zahid Qurban Alvi is the blue-eyed boy of the PPP government and also holds the charge of Sindh Land Revenue Committee and he was also appointed the head of famous ‘Tori band inquiry commission’ and ‘Baldi town fire inquiry commission.
In official correspondence Mr Alvi told the anti-corruption department authorities that any complaints regarding the officials of Zakat and Ushr department should be brought up first before the Zakat Council and after hearing the two sides, the Council will decide weather the matter is fit for further proceedings by the anti-corruption department.
Justice (r) Zahid Qurban Alvi told The News that according to Zakat and Ushr Act and the orders of Sindh High Court, anti-corruption department could not investigate the matters of Zakat and Ushar department. However he refused to provide the said decision of Sindh High Court. Zahid Qurban Alvi has served as the caretaker chief minister of Sindh.