Petition challenging suspension of Director Finance dismissed

HYDERABAD, Oct 16 (APP): The Sindh High Court has dismissed a petition challenging suspension and inquiry against Director Finance of Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam.

The Hyderabad Circuit Bench on Friday dismissed the petition of Malik Naeem Iqbal, stating that the petitioner’s interpretation of sections 16 (2) (m) and 30 of Sindh Agriculture University Act, 1977, was misplaced.

The order stated that the petitioner’s contention that the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah suspended him from service without having a jurisdiction on the matter was unfounded.

Iqbal’s counsel advocate Muhammad Saleem Khaskheli apprised the court that his client, being a professional chartered accountant, was appointed as Director Finance on September 20, 2024, for a tenure of 3 years.

However, he added, the DF was suspended from his job on May 25 after 20 months of his appointment and that too without involvement of the varsity’s Syndicate.

According to the lawyer, Iqbal began to face alleged wrath of the higher officials after he started to raise questions about alleged unauthorized payments amounting to Rs69.184 million.

He had claimed that his scrutiny and approval were never sought for the payments in question.

The SHC while disposing off the petition observed that the competent authority was under legal obligation to consider the petitioner’s reply, the inquiry report and all the relevant materials objectively.