Islamabad (Raja Israr): An internal inquiry into alleged financial irregularities within the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad’s Solid Waste Management and Sanitation Wing has reportedly been halted, raising serious questions about accountability and institutional oversight.
According to available information, a Grade-16 officer in the sanitation department is accused of orchestrating the recruitment of daily-wage sanitation workers through temporary inspectors and allegedly embezzling millions of rupees on a monthly basis. The inquiry, initiated by the CDA’s Security and Vigilance Wing, reportedly gathered substantial documentary and video evidence before being abruptly stalled.
Sources claim that fewer sanitation workers were employed than officially approved, while salaries for the full sanctioned strength continued to be drawn, causing significant losses to the national exchequer. It is further alleged that ATM cards of daily-wage workers were kept by inspectors, who made illegal deductions before pocketing the remaining funds.
Despite the presence of assistant directors in the department, the Grade-16 officer in question was allegedly assigned three key charges, bypassing senior officials. The vigilance inquiry reportedly identified the involvement of an acting assistant director and a temporary inspector, and a detailed report was submitted to the Director Security and Vigilance.
However, influential elements are said to have intervened, leading to the suspension of the inquiry. Instead of disciplinary action, the inspector was merely transferred from one sector to another, which critics say amounts to an attempt to conceal corruption.
It now remains to be seen whether CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa, who has repeatedly vowed strict accountability, will call for the case files from the Security and Vigilance Wing and the Solid Waste Management Department and initiate action against those responsible.
Attempts to obtain comments from the concerned officers and the acting assistant director were unsuccessful. Responsibility was shifted to the Public Relations Department, which was sent a formal questionnaire, but no response was received even after three days.
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