LAHORE: Local Government secretary has initiated an inquiry under Peeda Act against zonal officer (Planning), Data Ganj Baksh Town, for allegations of misuse of authority, corruption, alteration of records, and fake and bogus entries.
Secretary Mian Shakeel appointed Ijaz Sarwar (BS-18), Deputy Secretary, LG&CD Department, as an inquiry officer to proceed against Ms Mehwish Naeem (BS-18/Zonal Officer (Planning), the accused officer in terms of Section 5 read with Section 9 of the Act ibid and to inquire into charges.
In his letter dated Jan 2, 2025, the secretary said as being competent authority under the Punjab Employees Efficiency Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006, was of the opinion that there were sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused under Section 3 of the Act ibid on account of inefficiency and misconduct.
The letter said, “While posted as Zonal Officer (Planning), Data Ganj Bakhsh Zone MCL, she committed following irregularities: The accused generated bogus letters and tampered the entries of letters No.190-ZO(P)DGBZ/24 dated 23.05.2024, No.203- ZO(P)DGBZ/24 dated 15.06.2024, No,171-ZO(P)DGBZ/24 dated 03.05.2024, No.177-ZO(P)DGBZ/24 dated 11.05.2024 and No.04- ZO(P)DGBZ/24 dated 06.07.2024 besides 40 to 50 other letters in dispatch register which is confirmed by Abdul Sami, Diary Clerk DGB Zone, in his written statement and evident from the fact that as per record of MCL, these letters were never issued/received in offices concerned of MCL or to the addresses. “As per statement of Abdul Sami, the accused called him at 1.05pm on 24.12 2024 from her personal number and directed him to arrive at a plaza, where she was already available and directed him to make entries on blank places as per her directions. Abdul Sami made approximately 40 to 50 entries in dispatch register that day. The malpractice of the accused is evident from the statement of Asim Sajjacl, Junior Clerk/Building Plan Clerk, hereby confirmed that the accused called him at 01:52pm on 24.12.2024 and directed him to bring Abdul Sami, Diary Clerk of DGB Zone, MCL who had already left the office.
“Contrary to her own directions issued to Abdul Sami, Asim Sajjad and Imtiaz vide letter No 99-ZO(P)DGBZJ24 dated 23.12 2024 wherein she directed that no official record will be transferred or moved outside the office of DGB Zone, she herself made bogus entries in the dispatch register illegally through Abdul Sami outside the office premises.”
The letter said the accused while working as Zonal Officer (Planning) was transferred and posted as Zonal Officer (Planning), Gulberg Zone, vide order dated 11.03.2023 and she relinquished the charge of the post on 16.03.2023 vide letter No. 530- ZO (P), DGBZ/23 dated 16.03.2023 but as per report dated 17.12.2024 of the Chief Officer, Metropolitan Corporation, the charge relinquishing report was neither signed by the Chief Officer, MCL nor received in the office of Chief officer or MO (Planning), MCL which is another evidence of her malpractices (making anti-dated charge report).
LG secretary in his letter wrote that the accused officer assumed the charge of the post of Zonal Officer (Planning) Gulberg Zone on 02.06.2023 and after relinquishing the charge on 13.06.2023, she assumed the charge of the post of Zonal Officer (Planning), DGB Zone, MCL on 03.07.2023 without any order of authority. She was called on to explain her position vide letter dated 25.07.2023, thereafter, admitting her mistake she relinquished the charge of the post on 26.07.2023. The above acts on the part of the accused amounts to misconduct in terms of the Peeda Act, 2006, the letter said, adding the accused was directed to submit written defence to the Inquiry Officer within seven days of the date of receipt of this order. In case of failure to do so, it shall be presumed that either she has no defence to offer or has declined to offer the same and accepted the charges.
The letter stated that the Deputy Chief Officer, Data Ganj Bakhsh Zone, MCL was appointed as departmental representative in terms of Section 9(1) (c) read with Section 12 of the Act ibid and Rana Sajid Ali, Administrative Officer (Town Planning), Punjab LG Board, Nouman Ashraf, Building Inspector, Data Zone, Abdul Sami, Diary Clerk, Planning Branch, Data Ganj Bakhsh Zone, Metropolitan Corporation Lahore, Asim Sajjad, Junior Clerk/Building Plan Clerk, Data Ganj Bakhsh Zone, Metropolitan Corporation Lahore were nominated as prosecution witnesses in this case.
The order stated that if the accused desired to consult any record relevant to the aforesaid charges, she may do so with prior arrangements with the Departmental Representative within seven days of receipt of this inquiry order. Local Govt secretary ordered the inquiry officer to submit his report with recommendations within sixty days of the initiation of inquiry in terms of Section 10(6) of the Act ibid. Sources close to former ZOP said that she did nothing wrong and would face inquiry.
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