KPEC says illegal mining, corruption,nepotism continue unabated in Mines Department

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) has said that illegal mining, corruption and nepotism in the Mines and Mineral Development Department was continuing despite the filing of various references and arrest of the corrupt officials.

The KPEC through a letter to the secretary Mines and Mineral Development Department on May 17 pointed out that despite its directives the corrupt practices were continuing in the department.

The letter was sent by the additional director investigation, KPEC, Col (R) Saifullah Jarrar to the secretary Mines and Mineral Development Department. It was actually issued in continuation of the earlier letter sent to the department on October 1, 2015.

The KPEC had earlier directed the Mines and Mineral Development Department to stop illegal mining in Nowshera, the native district of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, and Abbottabad and other areas.

It may be mentioned here that former provincial minister for Mines and Mineral Development, Ziaullah Afridi, was also arrested on July 9, 2015 on the charges of corruption and reluctance to take action against those involved in illegal mining and other corrupt practices in the department.

The KPEC, however, has once again pointed out that illegal mining was continuing in the ceased and surrendered mines. It also made a mention of other corrupt practices.

In its letter No IW/EC/inv/64./T-2, dated 1/10/2015 to the secretary Mines and Mineral Development Department on May 17, the KPEC wrote that “It has been reported to the Ehtesab Commission by various reliable sources and different complainants that in spite of arrest and filling of various references against the corrupt officials and their beneficiaries, illegal mining still continued in various parts of the province. Misuse of authority, illegal posting, transfer and promotions and nepotism are taking place and causing huge losses to the exchequer.”

The KPEC asked the Mines and Mineral Development Department secretary to initiate action against those involved in the malpractices as suggested in the previous letters.

It also merits mention here that one month after the arrest of Ziaullah Afridi in September 2015, the KPEC wrote a similar letter to the Mines and Mineral Development Department to inform it that illegal mining continued even after the arrest of minister and others.

The letter suggested a number of measures to the department to stop the menace.

When contacted, Ziaullah Afridi said illegal mining had been going on for 30 years, but only he and Director General of the department Dr Liaqat Ali were arrested while others involved in the practice weren’t nabbed. He said around 714 lawsuits had also been filed in mineral cases in Nowshera, but none had been actively followed by the police.

Ziaullah Afridi, who is presently in jail in Peshawar, claimed he had got registered 97 cases of illegal mining in Mamakhel in Nowshera district, but none of the accused was arrested.

He criticised the KPEC and said that it was content with the issuance of reminders to the Mines and Mineral Development Department while corruption was continuing in the department.

“It should also arrest those involved in corrupt practices in the Mines and Mineral Development Department instead of issuing letters to the department,” Ziaullah Afridi maintained.