Fake ETPB secretary arrested

LAHORE

Islampura police Wednesday arrested a man for posing himself as Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) secretary.

Accused Azfar Aziz, who posed himself as a retired major, was arrested when he reached the ETPB office on Wednesday.

Inquiry officer Mubarik told The News that the accused was being questioned and senior police officers were also engaged.

Azfar Aziz had come to the ETPB a week ago to take charge as new secretary of the board. Some senior ETPB officials welcomed him at the gate and security guards accompanied him to the secretary’s office. According to ETPB sources, on the day of the incident, ETPB Chairman Siddiq-ul-Farooq was in Islamabad whereas the sitting secretary of the board, Ikram-ul-Haq, was also in a meeting with Punjab government officials regarding Orange Line Train project at that time.

Ikram was taken aback to see new ‘secretary’ in his office. After welcoming, he informed the chairman who was busy meeting a federal secretary at that time. "My appointment letter will reach within a few days," Azfar told Ikram-ul-Haq, when he asked him about  joining.

Sources said the development shocked the ETPB chairman who asked some questions to senior officials sitting with him at that time in Islamabad.

“Have you sent him (Azfar) as new secretary of the board”, he asked the federal secretary. No, we didn’t, the secretary responded to him." The chairman and other officials smelt a rat and started gathering more information.

The sources said the fake secretary came to the ETPB again next day. He addressed all employees, assured  them of full support to demands and also distributed sweets.

But when he tried to enter his office, as was directed by the ETPB chairman, the staff asked him to show his appointment letter otherwise he will not be allowed to get in.

“Azfar after having some arguments with the staff left the ETPB office in an official car of the board”, the sources said.

The fake secretary had taken away some very important files along with the official car, chairman Siddique-ul-Farooq told The News when contacted, adding the car was found in Gujranwala’s ETPB office but the files were still missing.

He said the board immediately contacted the police concerned and a case was lodged against him and some ETPB officials who facilitated him.

To a query, the chairman said that there was a common practice in the appointment of ETPB secretary that the board chairman was taken into confidence before the final appointment. He said strict action would be taken against all negligent ETPB officials.