As many as 483 employees of Sindh government entered into 'Voluntary Return' (VR) with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in corruption cases, Sindh High Court (SHC) was informed on Monday.
A division bench of SHC headed by Chief Justice (SHC) Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh was informed by Sindh Government that 483 employees belonging to various departments benefited from 'VR' of NAB. The SHC bench is hearing the case against some officials of provincial government, who were reinstated after getting benefit of 'VR'.
According to the report, Sindh School Education & Literacy Department topped the list of the departments, whose employees benefited from 'VR'. A total of 311 'VR' cases have been registered in the department.
Local Government Department Sindh stood second with 50 employees.
Irrigation Department Sindh has 27 employees, who benefited from 'VR' whereas Food Department Sindh has 26 employees in this regard.
Finance and Works & Services Departments have fifteen employees each in VR scheme. Services, General Administration & Coordination Departments has nine employees, who entered into VR.
Police Department has nine employees whereas Health & College Education Departments have six employees each in VR.
Forest & Wildlife and Agriculture, Supply & Prices have two employees each whereas Social Welfare Department Sindh has one employee, who entered into VR.
Sindh government submitted the report in compliance with the court's orders concerning the employees benefited from VR. According to the court, "Those officials who have entered into VR and made payments should not hold respective public offices till finalization of department proceedings initiated against them."
Court's directives in the bail petitions of few officials of Sindh Government in corruption cases, who benefited from VR.
Meanwhile, Election Tribunal at SHC sought the comments on the maintainability of petition against Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain, elected from NA-245 by March 18, 2019.
The success of MNA Dr Aamir Liaquat was challenged by Dr Farooq Sattar, a contestant in the said constituency.
Counsel for Aamir Liquat contested that the petition is not maintainable as he challenged the success of Aamir Liaquat on the platform of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which expelled him from the party later.
Counsel for Farooq Sattar argued that there is evidence of missing of 22,000 ballot papers in 'Form 46', adding that polling agents were expelled from the booth and were not provided with the 'Form-45'.