ACE summons Dawood University officials to investigate ‘illegal appointments’

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Sindh has initiated an inquiry against the administration and employees of the Dawood University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) to investigate the alleged illegal appointments and irregularities in the varsity’s budget.

According to the available information, the ACE Karachi East Zone deputy director, Abdul Ghani, who has been inquiring into the matter, has written a letter to DUET Registrar Prof Dr Syed Ali Shah seeking details about the varsity’s vice chancellor (VC) and others.

The inquiry officer has written in the letter that he has been tasked with conducting an inquiry against the DUET VC and other employees regarding alleged illegal appointments and other irregularities.

Ghani requested the DUET registrar to direct the officers and employees to cooperate in the investigation on Friday by recording their statements. The summoned officers and employees include Engineer Sajid Hussain Siyal, Engineer Darya Khan Kakepoto, Assistant Professor Dr Mujtaba, Geologist Tehmina Fatima Siddiqui, Lab Engineer Tariq Ali Chandio and Assistant Director Adeel Naich.

Informed sources told The News that a confidential report regarding illegal appointments in the DUET was sent to ACE in which it was revealed that Dr Shah was appointed in the varsity without any advertisement. He has been working as a regular lecturer since 2008 without getting approval from the syndicate.

Likewise, Siyal, Fida Khoso, Kakepoto and others have also been allegedly appointed without an advertisement and selection board. Also, some persons have been appointed as engineers but they do not have accreditation numbers recognised by the Pakistan Engineering Council. The appointment of Assistant Professor Dr Ghulam Mujtaba in the energy department was also allegedly illegal. The appointment of Tehmina was also allegedly made without any advertisement.

In a reply to the inquiry officer, the registrar wrote: “it is informed that Geologist Tehmina Fatima Siddiqui and Lab Engineer Tariq Ali Chandio are on study leave to pursue their higher education. However, the remaining employees are preoccupied in conducting classes and other educational activities at the campus.

“As you know that due to Covid-19, recently educational activities have been commenced after a long period of suspension, hence, it is requested to kindly visit yourself or depute your team at Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, as per provision of your department for recording statements of the employees of University.”