Islamabad - Police on Tuesday arrested union leader Chaudhry Yasin, who is considered as the federal capital civic agency’s most powerful man, for violating Section 144 and amplifier act while carrying out a rally in support of Pakistan Army.
Apparently, it was one bad day for the leader who runs over 10,000-member labour union and is known for his connections. As, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday sought comments from the chairman CDA on an application containing grave charges of corruption, embezzlement, favouritism and manipulating routine working of the CDA against the leader.
An employee of the CDA filed the application. Tuesday afternoon, Yasin led a good-sized CDA employees rally from covered market to show solidarity with the Pakistan army.
According to first information report (FIR) lodged with Abpara police station on the complaint of city magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio, the rally organizers’ were warned that there was a ban on holding public gathering in Islamabad.
But the rally continued to proceed. FIR also includes names of other office bearers of the union.
When contacted Abpara police confirmed that Yasin was in police custody and an FIR had been lodged against him.
Yasin was also alleged of providing manpower for opposition parties’ sit-ins in Islamabad last year.
Meanwhile, an application filed with FIA alleged Yasin that he engaged in “systematic corruption” and using union-dominated system at the CDA to shore up his accounts and establishing business at China besides accommodating almost his whole family in the CDA service against rules. Applicant alleged that Yasin’s three sons; their wives, two daughters and their spouse are in the CDA service.
Application states on alleging Yasin that he manipulated working of the authority and managed to engage number of individuals in the CDA services after receiving huge bribes.
“FIA should investigate that how a CDA employee [Yasin], who joined CDA as a storekeeper, managed to establish shoe factory at China and over the period of time became owner of several residential plots at Islamabad,” application reads.
It’s worth remembering that Yasin was retired from the CDA almost two-year ago but he is still holding position of general secretary of the CDA labour union.
The applicant also questioned lavish lifestyle of Yasin and protocol he enjoys at the CDA.
FIA through a letter, available with The Nation, has asked the chairman CDA to comment over the issue “to proceed further into the matter.”
Yasin is widely appreciated by other government departments’ labour union heads for holding real influence over successive managements of the CDA. The Supreme Court of Pakistan is currently hearing a case of illegal promotion of hundreds of employees of the CDA, which was actually done by the previous management to ward off immense pressure of Mr Yasin in this regard.
He is also known for physically harassing the officers of the CDA, who refuse to take action against his directions.
Talking to The Nation from police station, Chaudhry Yasin, termed the allegations as “pack of lies” and efforts by his opponents to disgrace him. “It’s a continuous process. My opponents are in a habit of writing anonymous letters against me to FIA, or NAB, or to the apex court. And it means nothing to me.”
He said that no one could see a poor man like him openly defending the rights of fellow colleagues. He refused to further comment over the issue.
Over FIR, he said that on Thursday he carried out rally to show solidarity with Pakistan Army, but he was booked. “It is a bail able offence but the police have been keeping me under illegal detention for the past four hours,” Yasin said.
Until filing of this report, Yasin was in police custody. While scores of CDA employees were sitting in front of police station to protest the arrest.