PHC requested to summon DG Mines

Continuing corruption

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) was requested on Friday to summon director general (DG) Mines and Minerals Department as illegal mining, corruption and nepotism reportedly continue as was the case before the arrest of its DG Dr Liaqat Ali and then provincial minister Ziaullah Afridi.

The request was made by a counsel for the arrested DG Mines and Minerals Dr Liaqat Ali before a division bench headed by PHC Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, which is hearing the bail petition filed by Dr Liaqat Ali.

During the course of hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer Shumail Ahmad Butt submitted that in the bail petitions, he relied on four grounds including the one that illegal mining, corruption and nepotism still continues in the department, on the basis of which the petitioner had been arrested.

He requested the court to summon the incumbent DG Mines and Minerals. At this, the chief justice asked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Deputy Prosecutor General (DPG) Zahid Aman to submit rejoinder in this regard in the petition. However, the DPG asked if the lawyer for the petitioner was demanding this verbally.

The chief justice, however, said that the court would summon the current DG Mines and Minerals if required in the case.

The petitioner’s lawyer made the request on the basis of a letter of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) to the Mines and Minerals Department, in which it said illegal mining, corruption and nepotism in the department still continues despite the filing of various references and arrest of the corrupt officials.

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

The commission had arrested former PTI provincial minister for mines and minerals development Ziaullah Afridi on July 9, 2015 on charges of corruption and reluctance to take action against those involved in illegal mining and other corrupt practices in the department.

The KPEC pointed out that illegal mining was continuing in the seized and surrendered mines. In its letter to secretary Mines and Minerals 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 filing of various references against the corrupt officials and their beneficiaries, illegal mining still continues in various parts of the province.

Misuse of authority, illegal posting, transfer and promotions and nepotism are taking place and causing huge loss to the exchequer.”The KPEC asked the Mines and Minerals Development Department secretary to initiate action against those involved in the malpractices as suggested in the previous letters. The KPEC had earlier directed the Mines and Minerals Development Department to stop illegal mining in Nowshera, the native district of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Abbottabad and other areas.