MIRPURKHAS -  Municipal Committee Chairman Farooq Jameel Durrani alleged on Sunday that huge funds of Municipal Committee were misappropriated in the past.

“A day before I took oath as MC chairman, Rs8 million were drawn from the accounts of MC, whose record is not available in his office,” he said, and added, “Cash Clerk Mir Maqbool, and other staff, including the administrator, were involved in the embezzlement, as evident by the absence of clerk who has been missing for the last several months along with official records of MC.” 

Giving answers to the questions of local journalists here at his office on Sunday, he said that unfortunately last month in November, “We received OZT installment, half of which had been deducted by Sindh Finance Department, which is injustice with the citizens of Mirpurkhas as only we are authorised to pay salaries and pensions to the employees.

He lamented that despite the fact that stories of embezzlement of funds were published in newspapers, particularly during the tenure of incumbent deputy commissioner of Mirpurkhas, no authority is ready to conduct the inquiry in this regard.

Talking about the missing cash clerk, MC chairman said legal process had already been set in motion to sack him, and in the beginning show cause notices had been issued to him.

He expressed the hope that very soon a case would be registered against him.

“We are making all-out efforts to provide civic facilities to the citizens, but the main hurdle is the shortage of funds,” he informed.

He demanded the Sindh chief minister, finance secretary and other authorities to provide to the Municipal Committee the amount withheld in November and ensure regular supply of OZT installments to the MC without any deduction to ensure proper sanitary condition in the city.