Despite corruption probe, PSO officers promoted

Board members say all promotions made in Feb violate merit principles.

ISLAMABAD:

Some members of Pakistan State Oil (PSO)’s board of management have labelled the large-scale promotions made in the company a few months ago a violation of the principles of merit and pointed out that some promoted officers are even facing corruption cases.

These promotions were made by the managing director, who, the board members say, had no authority to promote the officers and change the organogram of the company as he was on a six-month probation period. In the promotions, the set procedures and seniority list of employees were ignored, they allege.

“Though a committee comprising the board chairman and managing director has taken back the promotions on paper, the promoted executives are still enjoying perks and privileges and holding on to their positions,” a government official alleged.

In a mark of protest against promotions made in February this year, one member of a human resource committee did not attend its meeting held to conduct interviews for promotion and appointment of general managers.

In a letter written to the board of management Chairman Suhail Wajahat Siddiqui, Board Director and human resource committee member Humayun Jogezai said, “I distinctly recall that while attending the board meeting on February 9, 2012 the reported promotions on a large scale were not on the agenda. Furthermore, there is laid-down procedure for promotions requiring CVs and profiles of eligible candidate to be forwarded by the management.”

Such candidates should be first interviewed by the human resource committee for proper vacancies with scope of responsibility. Upon recommendation of the committee, the board will then review the case.

“I have discussed the matter already with a few board members who are of the same opinion that the promotions done on February 9, 2012 were against rules and regulations of the company as well as norms and past practices,” Jogezai said, adding the impression that the board had delegated its powers to the new managing director was incorrect and misleading.

“The board had only authorised the then managing director to re-organise the top management as per approved organogram,” he said and called for immediate cancellation of all ‘illegal promotions’.

Some officers, who had been promoted, were even being investigated for wrongdoing by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), he pointed out.

Citing an example, Jogezai said Lt Col Fazle Abbas was appointed deputy general manager for security, though he was over-aged and not eligible. Earlier, his promotion was rejected thrice by the board.

“How can he be promoted to GM security and also given additional charge of administration where he has no experience at all. I believe FIA is holding an inquiry against him for hiring security services,” he said.

“In order to avoid legal complications, it is imperative that all promotions made in February 2012 are reverted and declared null and void,” he suggested.

Commenting on the matter, a PSO spokesperson remarked that as per uniform human resource policy, introduced by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources in all public oil and gas companies including PSO, promotions were made as per defined procedure. According to the policy, all candidates must undergo a written test followed by interviews and assessments conducted by a high-level selection committee.

“The promotion process at PSO is yet to be completed, hence, it is not appropriate to presume any outcome at this stage. Therefore, the queries are not valid,” the spokesperson said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2012.