Centrifugal Pumps, embezzlement issues: UET vice chancellor asked to depute professors' team to inspect

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed Vice Chancellor University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore to depute a team of professors to inspect the functioning and life span of "Centrifugal Pumps" purchased and used by Wasa for retrieving rainy water.
The judge issued this order while hearing bail applications of various suspended officers of Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa). Petitioners included Aftab Ahmad, Pervez Iftikhar, Zafar Iqbal, Asim Sana, Asif Javed and Muhammad Mansha who were suspended and later criminal cases were registered against them for committing a financial embezzlement in the purchase of Centrifugal Pumps for the agency.
There was also charged with not functioning Centrifugal Pumps properly during rains of June 29, 2008 till July 12 resulting pounding of rainy water. According to the prosecution, sub-standard machinery caused huge loss to the Agency under the head of centrifugal pumps.
However, petitioners pleaded that they were implicated in fake cases at the behest of the government. They said the cases against them were registered on the directions of Managing Director Wasa who was politically appointed. Petitioners had already been granted the concession of pre-arrest bails, which was extended till December 19, next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for petitioners suggested the court to get expert opinion by ex-director (Mechanical Engineer) Wasa Mirza Farooq Abdullah about the centrifugal pumps. However, a state law officer informed the court that the said nominee was also under investigation in some inquiry and it will be better if fresh inquiry be got conducted through some professors of UET.