Sindh govt destroying province by setting aside law: SC

Says will direct removal of DG Thar Coal Authority

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a serious exception over the appointment of Thar Coal Authority’s director general and affairs of the authority, observing that Rs72.3 billion schemes were being executed by an officer whose appointment was not made on merit.

Hearing a suo moto case against corrupt elements working on deputation in the Sindh Coal Authority, the SC’s three-member bench, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, observed that the affairs of the authority were being run by the secretary energy instead of the board, even though he was not a member of the Thar Coal Board.

The court observed that the Sindh govt was destroying the province by setting aside law. The court observed that it would pass an order to remove the DG Thar Coal Authority.

The court inquired the additional chief secretary as to why the functions of the authority were not being run by the board which was authorised under the law. The court also observed why should the matter not be sent to the National Accountability Bureau to examine the affairs of the authority.

On the other hand, the additional chief secretary submitted that the director general moved the summary through concerned secretary for approval of schemes. The court observed that Rs72.3 billion schemes had been approved by passing the relevant law of the Thar Coal Authority. The court also questioned additional chief secretary as to why the construction of roads, airport, and installation of reverse osmosis plant schemes were being executed by the authority instead of concerned departments.

Additional chief secretary submitted that concerned departments had lack of capacity to execute the projects for the coal districts, adding that stakeholders had assured that they would maintain these projects.

The court took a serious exception over the appointment of the DG Thar Coal Authority whose initial appointment was made by the then Chief Minister Jam Sadiq Ali in early 90s by relaxing the service rules.

The court observed that the government had appointed such a person as DG Thar Coal Authority whose initial appointment was illegal and who possessed no qualification or expertise to run the Thar Coal Authority except that he was the personal assistant of the former chief minister. The court inquired the additional chief secretary as to how the director general of the authority was appointed though he was not recommended by the board.

The court observed that the government had appointed those officers in the department who either came in service through nepotism or relaxation of rules. The court also took notice over the conduct of additional chief secretary and other officers for not disclosing the facts to the court, observing that at one hand the government was introducing freedom of information bill but, on the other hand, the government officers were hiding information from the court.

The court observed that no one would be allowed to misuse the public money. The court also asked the advocate general to ensure that development projects were executed through relevant departments so that transparency in the funds and monitoring of the work could be examined and responsible officers could be held accountable for any negligence.

The court after hearing the arguments of the additional chief secretary, advocate general Sindh, reserved the order.