Minister decides to remove DGTO

Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan has reportedly sought Prime Minister''s approval to remove Director General Trade Organisations (DGTO) Sajid Hussain due to his alleged involvement in corruption, sources close to Secretary Commerce told Business Recorder. The office of Directorate General of Trade Organisations which deals with the chambers of commerce and industry and other trade bodies across the country has on several occasions been accused of accepting bribes to favour different groups in elections.
The source said, one businessman informed Secretary Commerce that he paid a bribe of Rs 0.5 million to the Director General Trade Organisations online into his account. When Commerce Ministry sought an explanation from DGTO he refused to accept bribe charges levelled by the businessman, saying that anyone can deposit money into his account and later on accuse him of accepting a bribe.
However, the complainant provided concrete proof to Secretary Commerce which included shortage messages (sms) sent from DGTO''s mobile in which the latter demanded Rs 0.5 million from him. "DGTO sent his account number to the complainant and later confirmed that the amount has been transferred to his account," the sources maintained.
Commerce Ministry, sources said, thoroughly investigated the case at the highest level and sent a summary to the Establishment Division requesting that Director General Trade Organisations be removed and a new officer appointed. Commerce Minister, Engineer Khurram Dastgir directed Commerce Secretary to send a summary to the Establishment Division for the removal of DTGO.
Establishment Division, sources said, will seek approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the removal of DGTO and appointment of a new officer. DGTO is also facing other charges of wrongdoings. An insider told Business Recorder that Secretary Commerce has also served a show cause to the DGTO. Senator Ilyas Bilour also moved a privilege motion against the DGTO in the Senate which was handed over to the privilege committee.
When contacted, Director General Trade Organisations Sajid Hussain said that a group of officials who were ousted from DGTO office due to their bad reputation tailored a plan against him in connivance with a few businessmen. He, however, did not deny that an amount of Rs 0.5 million was transferred into his account. In reply to a question, he said that Secretary Commerce Arbab Shahzad who usually calls him on other issues did not give an opportunity for a personal hearing.