By our correspondent
KARACHI: Questions have been raised over the recruitment and subsequent promotion to grade 18 of Zameer Ahmed, who is serving as deputy director at the Malir Directorate of the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) on additional charge and on an own-pay-scale (OPS) basis, with calls for a formal review of the relevant records.
According to sources, senior deputy director Qutbuddin has written to the Sindh labor secretary, SESSI commissioner Hadi Bakhsh Kalhoro and other relevant authorities, drawing their attention to the matter and requesting verification of the original records relating to the officer’s recruitment, appointment and promotion, as well as any necessary action.
Sources said the officer was initially recruited by SESSI in 2016. Questions have since been raised over the recruitment process, including the availability of the advertisement, educational certificates and other mandatory documents. The matter is also said to require verification of whether all prescribed rules and regulations, as well as relevant court orders, were followed at the time of the appointment.
The officer was later promoted to grade 18 as deputy director in 2023. Questions have also been raised about the verification of educational certificates and other relevant documents during the promotion process.
The review is expected to establish whether the officer’s educational certificates, domicile, application and other mandatory documents were part of the departmental record at the time of the original recruitment. Sources said a claim had also emerged that the appointment was made on the basis of a one-page CV, although this could only be verified through the original official record.
If a departmental inquiry is launched, the original recruitment advertisement, application, educational certificates, domicile, experience certificates, appointment orders issued by the competent authority and records relating to the promotion would be among the documents requiring examination.
Sources said the officer had held administrative responsibilities at different SESSI directorates over the years. They also referred to notices reportedly issued to companies and industrial establishments over the recovery of social security dues. The actual recovery of those dues and any increase in contributions resulting from such notices could also be examined on the basis of official records.
Sources further claimed that written complaints had in the past been received from some factories, banks and security companies against the officer. The nature of those complaints, the action taken on them and their outcomes could also form part of any inquiry.
SESSI commissioner Hadi Bakhsh Kalhoro has in recent times formed inquiry and fact-finding committees to examine various administrative and complaint-related matters. In the present case, there have also been calls for the administration to consider appointing an impartial committee to review the complete record if deemed necessary.
According to sources, a possible inquiry could examine every stage from the officer’s initial recruitment to his promotion to grade 18, including the recruitment procedure, the availability and verification of educational documents, approval by the competent authority and the legal and administrative requirements governing the promotion.
However, none of the allegations or objections raised in relation to the matter can be treated as established facts at this stage. The legality of the recruitment and promotion, the existence or absence of documents and any individual responsibility can only be determined after examination of the original official record and a formal departmental inquiry.
