ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc) has sent two officials of the organisation on compulsory retirement after finding them guilty of corruption in the oil promotion and development project.
A Parc statement said that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Dr Nasir Mehmood Cheema, project director (Olive) and Sakit Saleem Mirza, deputy director (Ledger Section) under the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973. After they were found guilty of misconduct, corruption and inefficiency, Parc chairman Dr Yusuf Zafar imposed with immediate effect the major penalty of compulsory retirement on the two officials.
Parc said that during the scrutiny of record of stock register, illegal and fake entries of plants were found. The FIA investigated the matter and termed it a clear case of criminal negligence on the part of authorities who maintained the stock register.
Massive irregularities in the project were found by a sub-committee of the NA Standing Committee which recommended action against all the officials involved.
Dr Cheema’s bail was rejected by an FIA court but he absconded, and after one and a half months his bail was confirmed by the Islamabad High Court.
The committee recommended the ministry of national food security and research to detach all officers/officials from the olive project and conduct a transparent inquiry and take stern action against those found involved in the scam.
