KARACHI: Sindh government is reluctant to take action against Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Syed Salman Shah despite instructions of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Shah, who served as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) of an important official, was appointed DG PDMA in Grade-20 directly for a period of one year allegedly in violation of the basic service rules and regulations of the Sindh government in 2012. NAB wrote a confidential letter based on a complaint in this regard to the chief secretary Sindh on November 5, 2014 (copy also available with The News).It instructed the secretary to take necessary action as per law against Shah and submit outcome of action and report of the matter to the NAB by December 1, 2014. In the complaint submitted with NAB challenging the appointment, serious allegations of misappropriation were leveled against Mr Shah regarding the purchase of a helicopter and other relief goods by PDMA on his recommendations. But despite the passage of two months, the Sindh government remained unwilling to investigate the complaint and any action against Shah or any report thereof was not submitted to NAB authorities in this regard. Sources in the Sindh government said no one is willing to act against Shah as he is favourite of an important personality and is likely to be confirmed in Sindh government.NAB Spokesman Qudsia Kadri confirmed told The News that following a complaint against Shah a letter for necessary action and submission of report was written to the Sindh government but no response was received by the NAB so far. It is pertinent to mention here that the Supreme Court also has restricted PDMA from purchase of the said helicopter.Syed Salman Shah, Director General PDMA, told The News that NAB instruction regarding action against him is based on anonymous application and according to rules no action can be taken upon anonymous applications. He said all matters of PDMA are transparent and all matters relating to purchase are put on the website.“There was no irregularity in my initial appointment and the method of appointment was in accordance with the rules,” added Mr. Shah. This reporter tried to contact chief secretary Sindh Sajjad Saleem Hotiana, calling his official numbers, cell numbers and sending him text messages but got no reply.A request for the official version was also sent through fax to the chief secretary at his official fax number and residential fax number three days ago but no response was received till the filing of this news.
