Zakat committee chairmen suspended till Feb 8 polls

The Sindh Auqaf department, after getting approval from the government of Sindh, have issued suspension orders for chairmen and commissioners till the end of the General Elections 2024.

Officials said on Thursday that the chairmen of zakat committees of all districts across Sindh have been suspended and there are expectations that all the local government chairmen will also be suspended across Sindh in the coming days.

In this regard, the Auqaf department issued a notification and claimed that the decision had been taken for providing a level playing field to the candidates.

The order reads, “It has become imperative that the Zakat and Ushr department may take all necessary steps under the law to prevent any action on the part of the Zakat and Ushr Committees that amounts to influence the results of upcoming General Elections by depriving candidates from having a level playing field.

“In this regard, all district Zakat and Ushr Committees, Taluka Zakat and Ushr Committees and Local Zakat and Ushr Committees functioning in Sindh shall remain suspended till culmination of election process. During the period of suspension. no chairman shall use the office premises, official vehicles or any other government property.”

The order further reads that during the period of the suspension, the deputy administrator Zakat (BS-18) concerned is hereby allowed to operate the Personal Ledger Accounts (PLAS) of district Zakat and Ushr Committees jointly with district Zakat Officer (BS-17), district Zakat and Ushr Committee, concerned for disbursement of salary to Zakat paid staff only. “Moreover, the deputy administrator Zakat concerned is also authorized to renew the contract of those Amleen-e-Zakat who are previously appointed on contract basis and their contract has been expired, subject to satisfactory performance and prior permission to Election Commission of Pakistan.”

Earlier, the government of Sindh, especially the Auqaf department, in an order had banned all the officials from participating in politics. Officials said that the order was issued by the Auqaf, Religious Affairs, Zakat and Usher department after consulting with the caretaker government and has banned all Zakat chairmen from participating in politics.

The order reads, “It is strictly directed that all the Chairmen, appointed under Section-14, 15 and 16 of Sindh Zakat and Ushr Act, 2011 and this context as per the bar contained in provisions of Section-23 of the Sindh Zakat and Ushr Act, 2011 stipulating them as public servants, read with Section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (the PPC).

“All the chairmen working within the territorial jurisdiction of Auqaf, Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr department shall immediately refrain from any kind of involvement in political election-related activities during General Eleaction-2024 through physical or moral participation, media or other sources or extending any material support. They shall also guard public property and resources under their responsibility from being used for political and election campaign purposes in direct violation of the code of conduct issued by Election Commission of Pakistan.

“In case of any violation, the delinquent Chairmen, appointed under Section-14, 15 and 16 of Sindh Zakat and Ushr Act, 2011 will be reported for strict disciplinary action under Section-20 and 28 of Sindh Zakat and Ushr Act, 2011. Furthermore, they may also be penalized under election laws/rules by the competent authority.”