The letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, states the provincial government initiated disciplinary proceedings against Toru on the permission of NAB. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR: The provincial government has repatriated the services of former and controversial director general of Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Ziaullah Toru to the federal government.
The K-P establishment department has issued a notification stating Provincial Services Academy Deputy Director Ziaullah Toru has been sent back to his parent department, the National Accountability Bureau, from July 18 after completing his deputation period of three years.
The K-P government had requested the services of Toru, a BS-18 officer of NAB, on deputation for a period of three years starting from July 19, 2013. He was tasked to perform duty as director general of ACE by the K-P government in May 2014. However, he was removed from the slot in May amid controversies.
He was transferred and posted as Provincial Services Academy deputy director, while Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud was given the additional charge of ACE DG.
Rewind
Toru was investigating allegations of embezzlement in the provincial government’s flagship project – Billion Tree Tsunami. He had levelled allegations of misappropriations against the chief secretary’s brother and brother-in-law.
The ACE former DG had initiated the enquiry into the project upon the request of Adviser to Chief Minister on Forest Ishtiaq Urmar.
Senior officials in K-P government told The Express Tribune Toru developed differences with the incumbent chief secretary and both exchanged heated words during one of the meetings.
Toru also conducted an enquiry into alleged corruption and mismanagement in Peshawar Museum. His enquiry report made revelations regarding fake coins displayed at the museum, missing documents and corruption in the transfer and handling of confiscated and seized antiques by the customs and police officials. The directorate of archaeology and museums had, however, rejected the findings of the enquiry and called the report false.
Null and void
Toru called his transfer “null and void” and challenged it in the Peshawar High Court.
The ACE former DG has named Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan and Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud respondents in the case which is still under trail in the court.
After his transfer from the anti-graft body, the K-P government initiated enquiries against Toru for harassing and illegally taking money from the government officials.
What is interesting in his repatriation is a letter of the establishment department to the NAB chairperson. The letter states Toru committed “serious illegalities” in his tenure in K-P. The letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, states the provincial government initiated disciplinary proceedings against Toru on the permission of NAB. However, due to repatriation of the officer, the material pertaining to the disciplinary proceedings is being sent along.
According to the letter, the provincial government has conducted four enquiries against Toru. These include an enquiry into the “unauthorised” recovery of cash made by him when he was serving as the ACE DG. The second enquiry involves the harassment of government officials during his visit to Peshawar Museum. The third enquiry against Toru pertains to undue interference into the open tendering process and execution of infrastructural projects. Meanwhile, the fourth enquiry against him is that he tried to malign the government’s Billion Tree Tsunami project on the basis of “unfounded and unverified” charges.’
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2016.
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