Reopening cases: ‘NAB has sent letter to Swiss officials’

PAC concerned over ZTBL appointment on fake documents.

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials have complied with a Supreme Court order and have written a letter to the Swiss authorities, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was told on Tuesday. So far, NAB has not heard from the Swiss officials, the panel was informed.

At a Parliament House meeting the panel also took serious notice of appointments on counterfeit documents in the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL). The committee directed the authorities concerned to register an FIR against two men who were forging documents.

The committee reviewed the Audit Report Public Sector Enterprises for the fiscal year 2008-09 of the finance division.

The audit official apprised the committee that the ZTBL appointed Imtiaz Lodhi as chief finance officer (CFO) in February 2006 with a gross salary of Rs200,000 per month. However, the ZTBL president was later informed through a summary that Lodhi, in his application for the post of CFO, had misstated his last job.

“On the directive of the president, Lodhi was asked to clarify his position but he failed to produce the original documents and subsequently quit,” the audit official added.

The audit objection, he said, was about the appointment of CFO on forged documents, causing a loss of Rs224,8387 to the public exchequer in monthly salaries.

PAC chairperson Yameen Rehman directed that a case be registered against the accused. In another para regarding the ZTBL, the audit official also informed the committee about the appointment of the ZTBL vice president on bogus documents. He said the ZTBL appointed Khalid Javed Sheikh as senior vice president (SVP) in August 2006 on a monthly salary of Rs120,000 having BA degree without the required experience for the slot.

He was dismissed from the service in March 2007 on grounds that the documents provided by him for the said position were forged. The officer received Rs874,600 till his termination from service.

The audit official’s opinion was that the bank management was required to verify the credentials before appointment.

The ZTBL management commented that all recruitment was being made with the approval of the board of directors.

“The post was advertised and Khalid Javed Sheikh also applied, he was selected for the post of SVP,” he added.

As per his CV, he had practical experience of more than 15 years in commercial banks. On verification of documents it was revealed that he had misstated facts in his resume.

The PAC also directed that an FIR be registered against him. The committee directed the bank authorities to review their performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2011.