MULTAN: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar during his visit to the city on Wednesday night suspended from service two officials of Multan Waste Management Company (MWMC) and Municipal Corporation Multan (MCM) over alleged inefficiency and and sought explanation from the chief executive officer on his ‘loose’ administrative control over cleanliness/field staff.

According to a handout, Buzdar made a surprise visit to various areas of the city without protocol and took notice of poor cleanliness and switched-off street lights.

It said the CM expressed his displeasure over the performance of both departments and suspended from service MWMC deputy manager operations Usman Khurshid and MCM in-charge (street lights) Muhammad Nafees Ahmad. Buzdar sought explanation from MWMC CEO Abdul Latif Khan after he observed heaps of waste on the road leading to Multan Public School.

The explanation letter issued to Mr Khan said: “Being in-charge of the MWMC, you are supposed to be responsible for cleanliness for which instructions were also issued to you. It clearly manifests that you have loose administrative control over the cleanliness/field staff. You are hereby called to explain your position within two days as to why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against you under PEEDA Act 2016. In case of non-compliance, it will be presumed that you have nothing to place in your defence.”

Seeks explanation from MWMC head despite the fact that area doesn’t fall in its jurisdiction

Sources said notice to Mr Khan was issued despite the fact that the area did not fall in the MWMC jurisdiction after he had taken back the additional charge of manager (admin and human resources) on Sept 3, from deputy manager Aqeel Ahmad who had been holding the additional charge for the last one year.

They said Mr Aqeel, who used to introduce himself as the brother of CM Buzdar, is actually a neighbour of the Buzdar family in Green Villas located on Multan Public School Road.

They said Mr Aqeel through a family member of the chief minister conveyed a complaint against Mr Khan and over the intervention of CM Buzdar the order of taking back the charge from him was withdrawn on Sept 7.

They said soon the CM left his house to visit the city he stopped his vehicle near a heap of waste and directed to suspend Mr Khan. The CM [on the alleged intervention of some officials of local administration] directed to issue explanation letter to Mr Khan besides suspending deputy manager Khurshid; however he was not aware about the fact that the area does not fall under jurisdiction of MWMC.

It merits mentioning that Aqeel was hired in the company in December 2018 reportedly on the recommendation of a close relative of CM Buzdar despite a ban was imposed on recruitment in provincial departments at that time.

Sources said at that time Muqarab Iqbal was appointed as manager (admin) and as Aqeel was eying the post, he allegedly used his influence and Iqbal was ‘forced’ to resign after some months after the allegations of tampering with the minutes of a meeting of board of directors of the company were leveled against him. Aqeel was given the additional charge of the post and since then he [while using his influence] did not let any CEO to advertise the post.

They said after assuming the charge of CEO, Mr Khan decided to advertise the post which was resisted by Aqeel but the post was advertised on Aug 15.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2020