FIA launches probe into SSGCL ‘irregularities’

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a detailed probe against 13 top officials of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) for their alleged involvement in massive irregularities and corruption worth billions, documents available with The News confirm. According to a letter (No FIA/CCK/ENQ-16/2015 dated 20th April, 2015), the Anti Corruption Circle of FIA is conducting an enquiry against the current deputy managing director (DMD), ex-managing director and 11 other senior officials of the company.
Inayat Ismail, an official of the SSGCL, confirmed that the FIA had contacted the company’s top management and the entire had been provided to the anti-corruption watchdog.
In another letter (dated 16th March 2015), the FIA Assistant Director Khalid Jamil mentioned “corruption of billions in the SSGC” and recorded the statement of a witness, Dr Anwar Ali Sahto, an ex-employee of the company.
Sources said the recent probe involved illegal appointments, fake medical bills, fake degrees of top officials and other irregularities mentioned in audit paras by the Auditor General of Pakistan. The FIA letter addressed to Director General SSGC seeks asset details, appointment letters, and details of posting/transfer and personal files of accused officials. The agency had also asked the company to nominate a focal person for coordination between the FIA and SSGCL for smooth investigation.
The spokesman for the SSGCL said the company was fully cooperating with the officials of FIA and all relevant documents had been provided to them. He said the FIA and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had also probed allegations in the past but nothing could be proved against the SSGCL officials. “We hope again the officials will be cleared after the probe,” he added.