KARACHI, Dec 26: The Sindh government, without following the prescribed rules and regulations, has appointed a non-technical person as the Chief Controller of Buildings (CCOB) of the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA), it is learnt here reliably.

According to sources, the newly-appointed person, Mumtaz-ur-Rehman, a DMG officer, is a graduate and has no relevant qualifications essential for the highly technical post, holder of which is responsible to ensure that all the construction activities in the city were being carried out according to the KBCA rules and regulations.

The sources said that the KBCA (Authority Under the Sindh Building Control Ordinance, 1979) Employees Service Regulations-2000 clearly prescribes the qualifications for each post as well as the method through which, not only the CCOB, but all the other KBCA officials would be recruited.

The relevant portion of the KBCA’s rule and regulations, under the title: “Schedule of Establishment of KBCA; Method of recruitment and promotion for CCOB” says “it is a BPS-20 post and the official should have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering/architecture from a recognized university or the membership of the Institute of Civil Engineering (AMIE), Pakistan, India, or any other equivalent qualification.”

In the portion of “method of recruitment and conditions for promotion for CCOB”, it is clearly mentioned that “promotion shall be made on the basis of selection on merit from amongst the departmental officers holding next lower post and possessing seventeen years experience in Grade-17 and above as engineer or architect.”

The sources said that two irregularities have been committed by the Sindh government while appointing the new CCOB; first, he is neither an engineer nor an architect, and second, he is not from amongst those holding the next lower post.

The sources said that since the establishment of the KBCA, hardly a few CCOBs had been appointed in accordance with the rules and regulations. After mid-’90s, when the ‘real worth’ of this post was realized, rulers of Sindh always installed their favourites on this highly lucrative post, most often flouting the rules relating to qualification and selection.

The first KBCA chief, Ahmed Hussain, was an architect and had been serving in the BPS 20. The next was Rauf A. Farooqui, an engineer in the BPS 20. The third one, Maj (r) Munim Khan, had the officiating charge for few months. He was also an engineer in BPS 19. He was followed by Mohammad Hussain, an engineer in BPS 19, he had also officiated the charge for a few months.

By then, the then rulers had realized the worth of a CCOB and S. M. Misbah, having a diploma in architecture, was brought in from the Town Planning Department, Hyderabad. He was a grade-19 officer. Then Mohammad Hussain was once again given the charge for a few months.

Brig (r) Dr Zafar Malik was the next person hired on a contract basis. He had a doctorate in engineering. Then two KBCA grade-19 officials – Ali Zafar Qadri and Akhtar Iqbal Usmani (a diploma holder) were given the charge of CCOB on officiating basis for a few months till a person with the required ‘abilities’ was found.

He was Brig (r) Ahmadullah Sharif Nasir who had, in fact, no relevant qualification. Hired on a contract basis, the non-technical septuagenarian retired soldier served as the CCOB for many years. He resigned recently when the Anti-corruption Establishment picked up a retired KBCA official, Akhlaq Ahmad, with many official files in his custody. The ex-official was famous for being the CCOB’s front man, who is presently in jail. Brig Nasir himself is on bail.

A KBCA official, Rauf A. Farooqui was handling the affairs of KBCA till date, and now Mumtaz-ur-Rehman, currently serving as Secretary in the Cooperatives Department, has been brought in as the new CCOB.

Mr Rehman, who knows he may be relieved from the new post at any moment, continues to keep the post of secretary in the Cooperatives Department as an additional charge.