ISLAMABAD: (Masood Chaudhary) A controversy has emerged over the academic credentials of Syed Safdar Ali Shah, the Director General of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), raising questions about his eligibility for decades of public service.
Shah, who began his career in 1992 as a beldar in CDA’s Maintenance-3 department, later served as a dog shooter and sanitary supervisor in Sector F-10. In 2002, he was promoted to the post of Assistant, a position requiring a Bachelor’s degree in at least Second Division. Investigations reveal that Shah not only held a Third Division BA but also allegedly obtained a dubious degree.
He climbed the ranks over the years, becoming Admin Officer in 2004, Assistant Director in 2008, Deputy Director in 2010, and Director, eventually reaching Grade-20. Reports indicate he even secured Grade-19 retrospectively from 2015.
Discrepancies in Shah’s academic records are striking. His BA lists his name as “Syed Safdar Ali Shah” and his father’s as “Syed Haider Ali Shah” from “The Islamia University of Bahawalpur.” However, his MA in Political Science shows his name as “Syed Safdar Ali son of Syed Haider Ali” from “Islamia University Bhawalpur,” raising suspicions of professional fraud.
Allegations extend beyond his academic qualifications. Shah is accused of orchestrating thousands of illegal appointments, regularizations, cadre changes, upgradations, and promotions from 2004 to 2024, inflating the CDA’s sanctioned strength from 10,000 to 18,000 and causing institutional losses reportedly amounting to crores of rupees.
Despite these allegations, authorities have reportedly failed to investigate his eligibility. Shah has been repeatedly entrusted with multiple key posts simultaneously, including Secretary CDA Board, Director Security, and Director General Human Resources.
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