- FIA yet to initiate inquiry into application 326/2020 despite lapse of two year
ISLAMABAD: Huge corruption and misuse of authority have allegedly been done by the officials of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) in repair to approach road in Rajjar area and construction of boundary wall of a grid station in the federal capital.
According to sources, officials of IESCO are allegedly involved in bogus tendering process, corruption and misuse of authority in the repair to approach Road Rajjar and also in the construction of a boundary wall of I-10 Grid Station in the federal capital. And, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been requested to investigate and take action against the officials of IESCO who are allegedly involved in bogus tendering process, corruption and misuse of authority. The FIA, however, has so far kept a mum in this regard and despite lapse of “quite some time” yet to initiate an inquiry (326/2020) into the matter.
Sources said that a new approach road was earlier constructed for Rajjar grid station in Jhelum District under the supervision of Executive Engineer Civil (IESCO) through a tendering process. However, Executive Engineer Civil (IESCO) had refloated road maintenance tender of the same approach road of Rajjar grid station a few months ago though the security maintenance period of this road was for one year while there was no need for road construction or repair until 2025 i-e three years as per IESCO rule/plan. Moreover, as per IESCO tender advertisement rule no tender is issued to a firm /contractor whose any civil work is pending from the previous year works tenders in the same division. But the tender winning company had several pending works of the previous year on its part.
Surprisingly, the newly constructed approach road of Rajjar grid station does not need any maintenance as it is currently available in good condition and anyone can visit the road site to know the actual condition of this approach road, the sources added.
Sources also informed that some cracks had appeared in the boundary wall of federal capital’s I-10 grid station (GSC house building) which was designed by NESPAK. And, IESCO’s Executive Engineer (Civil) got dismantled this boundary wall which was constructed at a cost of Rs 20 million. Similarly, the Executive Engineer (Civil), without calling a tender, had verbally asked a favourite contractor to start construction of the boundary wall of I-10 grid station under emergency rule of PPRA.
According to section 2(g) of PPRA, emergency means natural calamities, disasters, accidents, war and operational emergency which may give rise to abnormal situations requiring prompt and immediate action to limit or avoid damage to person, property or the environment, said sources.
They added that this work was simply building work and no emergency situation was faced.
Syed Manzoor Hussain Shah Kazmi, chairman Anti-Corruption Cell, Labour Unity of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (CBA) through an application has requested the Federal Investigation Agency to investigate both matters and take strict action against IESCO officials who are allegedly involved in the corruption and misuse of authority. He also asked the FIA to check and scrutinise the tender documents of the last two years to find the truth behind the corruption and misuse of authority allegedly committed by the officials of IESCO. Since both matters are related to public importance and misuse /wastage of public money, so FIA should wake up from deep slumber and start investigation into the said matters, said Syed Manzoor Hussain Shah Kazmi while talking to Pakistan Today/Profit on Sunday.
He added that though FIA had earlier launched inquiry 326/2020 to investigate the corruption and violation of rules in the award of tenders etc., the investigating agency had so far not achieved any milestone in this regard.
Record tempering is allegedly being done in IESCO to save the official’s skin and FIA has been informed many times in this regard. But the agency (FIA) has yet to take any mentionable step/action for the satisfaction of applicant or to safeguard the public money, said Syed Manzoor Hussain Shah Kazmi, chairman Anti-Corruption Cell, Labour Unity of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (CBA).
It is also learnt from sources that the cost incurred on construction of the boundary wall of I-10 grid station was Rs 6,71,37,260. However, the Executive Engineer (Civil) dismantled the boundary wall after finding cracks in it and later paid Rs 2 crore paid to another contractor on verbal commitment without calling a tender for the construction of the boundary wall of the federal capital’s I-10 grid station of IESCO.
“SDO Civil, Qaisar Shehzad and Xen Civil Division IESCO Islamabad Naser Saeed Khattak played key roles in I-10/3 Grid Station Wall,” said sources.
It is important to note that Audit had observed that the expenditure incurred on retaining wall was very much high as compared to the market rates.
It is pertinent to mention that the length of the designed retaining wall is 131 feet, while the length of excavation is 310Ft. Similarly, the designed height is 13.5 Ft and the depth /height of excavation is 31.5 Ft.
When contacted IESCO spokesman, he said he has forwarded the sent questions to Xen Civil for reply and did not provide official words. And, when this correspondent directly approached the said Xen Civil, he did not bother to reply despite sending questions via WhatsApp text message.
FIA Inquiry Officer, Additional Director, Malik Sajid was also approached to get his stance over undue delay in the inquiry of 326/2020, but he did not appear despite efforts.
