NAB requested not to change IO probing illegal appointments in Iesco

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau has been requested not to change the Investigation Officer of the case probing illegal appointments of 87 officers in Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco). The change of Investigation Officer of the case is considered as an attempt to gain time. However, NAB sources say that IOs are changed on routine basis and Director General NAB has the powers to change the IO at any stage.

Details reveal that Iesco has quashed the illegal appointment of 87 officers who were hired during the incumbent government’s tenure after it was established that the hiring agency made glaring irregularities and illegalities to please the high and mighty. The Iesco decision came after the Ministry of Water & Power directed Iesco in February this year to do away with illegal appointments.

Last year in December, the MoW&P sacked the CEO Iesco after an inquiry proved that he had illegally recruited these 87 officers in the company. The report was submitted to the minister indicting the CEO and others while secretary water and power recommended his removal. He was removed on December 9, 2015.

The minister was told that the inquiry ‘clearly established without an iota of doubt or contradiction that the recruitment process undertaken in the Iesco during 2014-15 (87 posts in total) was dubious, fabricated and illegal. The whole process, based on facts established by the inquiry committee, consisted of gross irregularities, nepotism and favoritism and was in sheer violation of services’ rules and advertised criteria.’

A case against those who had hired 87 officers in Iesco illegally is being investigated by the NAB. The complainant, Syed Manzoor Shah Kazmi in his complaint to the Director General NAB Rawalpindi has written that the enrollment process in Iesco was totally adverse to the merit and based on favoritism and nepotism and that the complainant submitted a complaint no.58/2015 dated 06.08.2015 with NAB. That Inquiry was under progress and Sher Ahmed Khan was investigating the case.

Meantime Ministry of W&P constituted an inquiry to probe the matter and inquiry committee submitted its findings vide dated 09.12.2015 and charge was established, resulting the then CEO Iesco’s dismissal on account of illegal appointments of 87 officers in Iesco.

“That on 25.08.2016 under signed received a telephone call from NAB and a female Deputy Director NAB was on telephone line. That in compliance with telephonic message the complainant attended the office of DD NAB on 26.08.2016. That the complainant was shocked to know that the inquiry officer has been changed. Whereas at this stage of investigation, this kind of decision could be a disaster and not fruitful for either side and against the principles of natural justice. The previous Investigation Officer was well abreast with the case and had placed everything on record.

That the matter is very important/high profile as millions of rupees are to be recoverable from culprits and an officer who does not know anything about the facts of the case could not do justice and being unaware of the case, the accused would gain time, whereas NAB has already availed over one year in this investigation and no report has been submit in the court regarding progress of investigation. That the recruitment process in Iesco is connected with the findings of NAB's inquiry. Matter is pending with NAB since 22.06.2015 and Honorable Islamabad High Court has already issued direction vide order dated 10.09.2015 for investigation and submission of reports within a week’s time.” The complainant has requested the DG NAB to reverse the change of IO in this particular case.