has served a suspension notice on the union head for misconduct and violation of service rules, the authority said on Wednesday. According to the four-page show-cause notice, the KFHA charged the union president Sajid Hameed Ashrafi for misconduct under section 3 of the Removal from services (special powers) Sindh Ordinance 2000, read with Sindh Civil Servants (conduct) Rules 1996, and Sindh Civil Servant (E&D) Rules 1973.
He has also been tagged with charges of attempts to disturb the working atmosphere of KFHA along with office-bearers for their fringe benefits. In addition, he, the notice says, along the office-bearers hold demonstrations against the KFHA management and attempted to bar the managing director from entering his office. He also was charged for writing letters to the higher authorities with baseless allegations against the management.
The KFHA maintains that the suspended union president has been an irregular official and never followed the office timings in his career. It says the officer subjected to the show-cause, has been issued explanation, warnings and final warning periodically between 1990 and 2008. Record reveals that Ashrafi was appointed on nepotism-cum-political basis without advertisement for post in the newspapers, the show-cause notice says, adding that he received promotion on the similar grounds despite his poor performance.
The official was placed under suspension vide order No KFHA/2354/2012 dated 25-10-2012 with direction to attend daily office of Director Admin and Finance, but he continued to remain absent from October 25 to October 30 2012 and from November 1 to 11 and then on November 14 2012. Further, he was found late comer and remained out of office of Director Admin and Finance on 31 October and 12 to 13 November 2012, the notice says.
Ashrafi was also charged for giving press statements against the authority’s management in newspapers appeared on 21-10-2012, 24-10-2012 and 25-10-2012 beyond his mandate. Besides, he gave an interview to a weekly publication in December 2011, it says. The notice maintains its charges, holding him responsible for attempts to tarnish the image of KFHA through his unscrupulous statements to the media. The notice also holds him accountable for displaying banners in his favour in the office and fish harbour. His suspension also entails factors including illegal agitation at the Karachi fish harbour, which falls in a high security zones, and the notice considered it an act of “treason”.
