Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday dismissed a writ petition filed by the Managing Director, Utility Stores Corporation (USC), Major General Muhammad Farooq (Retd), challenging his sacking on the ground that the caretaker government could not remove him because his appointment had been made by an elected government.
On April 9 this year, caretaker Minister for Industries and Production, Shehzada Ehsan Ashraf Sheikh dismissed USC Managing Director with the formal approval of Prime Minister, Mir Hazar Khan Khoso. However, the sacked Managing Director challenged his dismissal in the IHC and sat in the office notwithstanding his removal.
On Friday, IHC heard the arguments of Managing Director and the Ministry of Industries and decided in favour of the action taken by the Minister. "IHC has declared sacking of USC in accordance with the rules," an official of the Ministry of Industries told the court.
The apex court had also directed the Ministry of Industries to give the acting charge of Managing Director''s office to the senior-most officer and re-advertise the post within a month. Sources said that some USC officers had approached the Minister to get the position. However, the Ministry of Industries recommended the name of Sultan Mehmoood, Senior Manager USC, as an acting MD, to the Minister.
A notification will soon be issued in this regard, the official maintained. Meanwhile, the Ministry sought details of retired army officers who had been appointed by the sacked Managing Director at hefty salaries without formal approval from the parent Ministry. "After we receive the list of favourite officers of former MD, their services will be terminated immediately," the sources continued.
According to sources, former Deputy Prime Minister/ Senior Minister, Chaudhry Peverz Elahi also appointed hundreds of officials in different grades in the USC purely on the basis of political affiliations. The sources said that Secretary Industries Zafar Mehmood was assigned to review contracts of all CEOs of corporations and organisations which fall under the domain of Industries Ministry. The organisations include Engineering Development Board (EDB), National Fertiliser Corporation (NFC), and National Productivity Organisation.
Similarly, Secretary Production Shahid Ullah Baig was directed to review contracts of CEOs who fall under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Industries. Contracts of CEO, PSM, PIDC, Chairman of State Engineering Corporation (SEC) and head of Heavy Mechanical Complex are also being reviewed.