Officials accused of influencing investigations and forming “internal mafias” removed from office
ISLAMABAD:
In a move to curb corruption and administrative misconduct, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has removed 107 officials from grades 19 to 16 from their posts amid allegations of corruption, abuse of authority and attempts to influence departmental investigations.
According to reliable sources, these officers had long been under scrutiny for their alleged involvement in corruption scandals and for manipulating ongoing investigations in collaboration with investigating officers to avoid accountability.
Some were accused of giving and receiving “clean vouchers” through mutual agreements.
Sources told The Express PAkGazette that CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa had secretly, three months ago, directed the member administration to compile a list, strictly on merit, of officials facing investigations or those with tarnished reputations.
The president reportedly warned that any bias, favoritism or victimization in the preparation of the list would lead to disciplinary action against the officials concerned.
Following these instructions, Member Administration completed the process within three months. President Randhawa later dubbed the initiative “Operation Cleanup”, vowing to purge the CDA of “black sheep” at any cost.
The president further indicated that more officials and corrupt officials will also be removed from key positions in the coming days.
Sources said that for years, many of these senior officers had held important positions, forming a powerful internal network that allegedly obstructed routine public affairs for personal gain through their subordinates.
Randhawa has ordered that if any official or civil servant is found to create unnecessary obstacles in the legitimate work of citizens in future, he will not only be removed from office but also dismissed from service without retirement benefits.
The CDA’s legal wing has been tasked with actively bringing all related cases to court, with plans to further strengthen it by hiring competent lawyers. Randhawa said those found guilty would be an example to deter corruption within the authority.
Among the 107 dismissed officers are several senior officials including Director Grade 19 Law Abdul Hakeem Berrero, Director Training Academy and Director Labor Mumtaz Ali Sher, Director Human Resources Compliance and Law Administration, Deputy Director General (Human Resource Management) of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad Kashif Shah, Director Civil Rana Tariq Mahmood (who also served as Deputy Director General of Metro Bus) and Additional Director E&DM and Operations, Zafar Iqbal, who held the additional charge of 1122 Emergency Services.
