Panamagate casts shadows on all issues

Key appointments, including that of Sindh governor, are on the backburner due to SC proceedings

ISLAMABAD: Government functionaries are devoting so much time and energy to grapple with the fallout of the Panamagate proceedings in the Supreme Court that it is taking a toll on matters of national and public interest.

A number of key administrative decisions are awaiting the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who these days is focusing on the case against him and his family and not much else, The Express Tribune has learnt.



The dozens of files awaiting the premier’s go-ahead include appointments on key slots and release of funds to several departments. Prime Minister Nawaz has yet to appoint a new governor of Sindh and make appointments in PIA, the Aviation Division, foreign ministry, Prime Minister’ Inspection Commission and other departments.

Some reports that surfaced recently suggested the government is finally considering appointing a full-time foreign minister, considering names like that of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed for the post. Likewise, Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi has been tipped to run PIA affairs either as chairman or prime minister’s special assistant or adviser on aviation.



Although Mahtab is barred from holding any public office for two years, the president can waive this restriction on the prime minister’s advice. According to Prime Minister House sources, a summary towards this end had been moved to the president but the issue has been on the backburner ever since. Some sources link Mahtab’s appointment with a possible cabinet expansion ‘once the ‘dust surrounding Panamagate settles’.

For Sindh governor, Mushahidullah Khan and Khawaja Qutubuddin are rated as top contenders. Others in the race include Board of Investment Chairman Miftah Ismail, Privatisation Commission Chairman Muhammad Zubair, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Chief Executive SM Muneer and PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi.

Other important appointments that need to be made include those of foreign secretary and PMIC chairman.  Reports suggest incumbent Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry is being posted as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States and Ghalib Iqbal, Tehmina Janjua, Ayesha Riaz, Ibne Abbas and Abdul Basit are being tipped as Chaudhry’s replacement.

On the other hand, after PMIC chairman Amir Muhammad Khan Marwat retired in November, several PML-N lawmakers – including Daniyal Aziz, Talal Chaudhry, Mushahidullah Khan and Ayesha Raza Farooq – are in contention but no decision has been made.

Other important portfolios in different departments are also lying vacant, with related inductions to be made by the PM.

The release of funds to different departments, especially, the pending payments of salary and house rent to the officials of the Passport Office who are performing duties in Pakistan’s foreign missions in 93 countries across the globe under the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) project also await the government’s attention.



“But Panamagate is high on the agenda these days and all other affairs are virtually on hold,” a PM House official said on condition of anonymity. A cabinet expansion is likely soon with the induction of a few ministers, advisers and special assistants. The relevant vacant slots can be filled in only after the storm over the Panama Papers is over, he said.

Prime Minister’s Adviser Ameer Muqam admitted that the premier and his aides were taking Panamagate issue ‘very seriously’ but denied that this was taking toll on other issues. “This is a serious case but we need not to worry. Our leadership is clean and it will come out as triumphant in the case. The conspiracies hatched by Imran Khan and his cronies would fail,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2017.