Probe clears orphanage of allegations

ABBOTTABAD: The Idara Tadrees-ul-Quran Orphanage in Abbottabad has been cleared of all allegations after an inquiry.

The orphanage’s executive body was suspended in October after the circulation of a viral video alleging maladministration. However, the findings of the probe committee exonerated the organisation, and the executive body was now seeking immediate restoration.

The current situation is placing an undue burden on the orphanage, affecting its ability to provide essential services to those in need. Established in 1940, the orphanage has a long-standing reputation for providing vital services to the community. Its executive body urged the authorities to allow them to resume management of the institution.

In a letter to the Social Welfare Department (a copy of which is available with The News), the former chairman and member of the general body of Idara Tadrees-ul-Quran, Sajid Awan, stated that the organization had been providing uninterrupted services

since 1940.

“After the inception of Pakistan, it was registered with the Social Welfare Department under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961,” he pointed out in the letter.

He said that the director of the Social Welfare Department had suspended the governing body of the organization without conducting an inquiry, based solely on baseless charges made in a viral video.

Sajid Awan argued that the order issued under Section 9(1) & (2) of the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, appeared to contradict the procedural standards established by the authority itself.

He stated that in parallel to the order by the registration authority, another notification was issued by the secretary to the commissioner of Hazara Division bearing No. 1/25/CHD/Secy/GB/6166-74 dated October 23, 2024.

Sajid Awan said an Audit/Inquiry Committee was constituted of three members, and under its ToRs committee had to submit its recommendations along with findings within seven working days.

“Though under moral obligations, we comply with the orders, but unfortunately it took one and half months to complete the financial inquiry,” he complained.Sajid Awan believed that the said Audit/inquiry was not legal within the framework of the Auditor General of Pakistan KP, as per the roles.

He said the local District Account Office was by all means authorized or competent to conduct the Audit/Inquiry of any private organization without prior permission from AGPR.

Saeed Akhtar Advocate, Legal advisor Orphanage, when contacted, said he had issued a legal notice to Allied Bank for illegally changing the signatories of the Orphanage bank account.He said that local administration had recommended government officials to operate the bank account which he said was unlawful and illegal.

Prof Shafi-ur-Rehman, another member of the orphanage, stated that the sealing and de-sealing of the orphanage office was unethical and unlawful, expressing concern over not paying salaries to the staff of the orphanage for the last three months besides the utility bills.The Social Welfare Department was asked to assign responsibilities to the executive body to run the orphanage smoothly.