Sindh government sacks prisons official

KARACHI: A whistle blower, who pointed out alleged illegal appointments, regularization and promotions of two officials as deputy inspectors general (DIGs), has been dismissed from his job by the Sindh government.

Kamran Ahmed Shaikh, Assistant Superintendent of the Sindh Prisons Department, had challenged the initial appointments, confirmations and subsequent all promotions of DIGs Hassan Sehto and Aslam Malik throughout carriers by terming them as illegal against the service rules and orders of the apex courts. According to details, Sheikh was also earlier terminated from his job in 2015, but later reinstated in 2018 by the Sindh Home Department.

Recently Maqsood Memon, an official of the Sindh Prison Department served a legal notice to the Sindh Home, Prison, and Law Departments, challenging the reinstatement of Sheikh. All three departments after reviewing the legalities of the matter dismissed Sheikh from service. The Sindh High Court had issued notices multiple times to the concerned officers (DIGs), Sindh Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, IG Prison Department but to date, none of the party including government functionaries and officers concerned submitted their replies.

As per the contents of the petition, both the DIGs Hassan Sehto and Aslam Malik were initially appointed in the early 90s on temporary basis for a period of two years as assistant superintendent (grade 11) by former chief minister Sindh Jam Sadiq Ali.

Petitioner Sheikh was of the view that the appointments of the officers were in contradiction of procedure of adhoc appointments defined in Section 2(a) of the Sindh Civil Servants Act, 1973. Besides, in the case of both the officers, no formal procedure of appointment was followed, specifically, recourse to the provisions contained in the Sindh Civil Servant (Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) Rules, 1974.

Sacked official Kamran Sheikh told The News, that he was victimized for his petition regarding the illegal appointments and promotions in the department. He said that he would challenge the alleged illegal decision before courts of law. Secretary Law Ali Ahmad Baloch confirmed the dismissal of Kamran Sheikh from service and added that the decision was based on legal provisions of law.

DIG Prions Department Hassan Sehto refused to comment on the issue and said he will submit his reply before the Sindh High Court.