ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed appeals of 294 teachers working in various educational institutes of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Workers Welfare Board (KPWWB).

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the appeals of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Workers Welfare Board employees. The bench after hearing the arguments of the counsels dismissed the appeals. The chief justice said they would not tolerate intervention of ministers in the government departments.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan questioned what the ministers had to do with the Workers Welfare Board. He said the labourers fund was being used for political bribery. The chief justice noticed that corruption and nepotism was high in KP Workers Welfare Board, as it was "full of ghost employees".

Almost all the employees in the board were recruited either on political basis or are relatives of the officers. Justice Gulzar said it seemed all the people in the KP were public servants, adding the officials did not feel shame as the Workers Welfare Board had become the most corrupt institution.

He said none of the employees were inducted in the board in accordance with the law and rules. He said those who were getting huge salaries never thought for the betterment of the board. He said the government was taking no interest in the affairs of the board.

The board's counsel informed that in 18 polytechnic institutes there were 628 students and 474 persons had been employed in them. He told that monthly salaries of the employees was Rs20 million. He stated that expenses on one student was Rs32,000 per month.

The chief justice hinted that in written order they might issue direction for the dissolution of the Workers Welfare Board, and removal of all the officers and employees, and ask the provincial government to reconstitute the board.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020