Senior Data Darbar officials penalised in corruption probe

The Auqaf Board has taken disciplinary action against several senior officials of Data Darbar following inquiry reports into alleged corruption and misappropriation of offerings from devotees. Official sources said the competent authority imposed penalties under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act against five senior officials and staff members, including former Administrator Data Darbar Sheikh Jameel Ahmed, former Manager Tahir Maqsood, and former Stenographer Saqib Naseem, among others. The action includes recovery of more than Rs20 million, demotion, dismissal from service, and a permanent ban on future postings in field revenue or cash-handling positions. Former Administrator Sheikh Jameel Ahmed has been demoted from his original post to a lower grade (BS-15) for a period of five years. His previous five years of service have been forfeited, and he has been directed to deposit Rs9,265,800. A negative entry will also be added to his service record. He has further been permanently barred from any future posting involving cash handling, donation management, or revenue-generating religious institutions. Former Manager Tahir Maqsood has been dismissed from service. He has also been ordered to pay Rs11,324,867 (his alleged 55 percent share of the recovered amount) and has been permanently prohibited from holding any field posting in future. Former Stenographer Saqib Naseem has been penalised with forfeiture of four years of service and barred from postings in sensitive administrative offices, including confidential branches and CCTV/security-related assignments. Former caretaker supervisor Noor Hussain has been awarded punishment of stoppage of annual increments for three years and has been permanently restricted from posting at Data Darbar or any major revenue-generating shrine. Another caretaker, Muhammad Sharif, though exonerated in the specific inquiry report, has been directed to face a separate disciplinary proceeding after a viral video allegedly showed him involved in theft of cash from a devotee at the shrine.

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/nMiS5QD