Pakistan

Vacant post: Four candidates interviewed for RCB vice-president slot

Other members’ opinion also sought in writing regarding ‘suitable candidate’

Our Correspondent August 22, 2016

Political pundits have, however, said that if Munir Ahmed, who happens to be the brother-in-law of Abrar, is picked up for the slot, it will put a question mark on the entire process. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

RAWALPINDI: At least four candidates have been interviewed for the slot of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) vice-president, a source said on Sunday.

The slot fell vacant on June 27 after 11 members of the RCB booted out the then vice-president Raja Jahandad through a no-trust motion.

After the no-trust motion, the RCB administration had sent the result to the district election office to de-notify Jahandad as vice-president of the board.

A spokesperson for the RCB had then announced that the “board was bound to elect a new vice-president within 60 days after de-notification of Jahandad”.

The no-confidence motion against Jahandad was moved by the members on June 20, for his “impolite behavior”, which according to him had antagonised the RCB administration and the officials who were not willing to do work whenever asked by them. Jahandad had held Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Malik Abrar responsible for the no-confidence against him. Abrar, however, claimed that he had nothing to do with the move.

According to the source, the candidates — Malik Munir Ahmed, Rashid Ahmed Khan, Haji Zafar Iqbal and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed Malik — were also asked to mention in writing what responsibility or role they would prefer to play if they were not selected as the vice-president.

Besides the four candidates, the opinion was also sought from six other members of the RCB, Malik Sajid Mehmood, Malik Usman, Muhammad Shafique, Malik Mansoor, Arshad Qureshi and Haji Shahid Mughal — to give in writing, which candidate was suitable for the slot and why.

All the four candidates had pleaded to consider them for the slot and MNA Abrar reportedly interviewed them.

When contacted, Abrar said that majority opinion would be given preference, while choosing the new vice-president.

Political pundits have, however, said that if Munir Ahmed, who happens to be the brother-in-law of Abrar, is picked up for the slot, it will put a question mark on the entire process.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2016.