K-P sacks head of energy developer

Notification says charge of PEDO CEO will be extended to secretary energy and power

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on Thursday terminated the services of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) chief executive officer (CEO) Akbar Ayub and extended the charge to the provincial secretary for energy and power.

The K-P Energy and Power Department issued the notification of Ayub’s sacking after PHC said his appointment was illegal. The court had also declared the seat as vacant and directed the K-P government to fill the slot on merit.

However, the K-P government had filed a Civil Petition for Leave to Appeal (CPLA) in the Supreme Court on Saturday to review the PHC decision.



According to the K-P energy and power department’s notification, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, Ayub’s services have been terminated subject to interim order/final judgment of the Supreme Court. The notification adds that in view of the petition filed in the apex court the additional charge of PEDO CEO is extended to the secretary energy and power.

Sources privy to the development said that Ayub’s services ceased to exist on the day the government filed the CPLA in the apex court, as PHC had suspended its June 7 order till the filing of the CPLA.

An official of the K-P government, who spoke on the condition of anonymity , said “Ayub could legally no longer serve as the CEO from Saturday onwards as the K-P government had filed the review petition.” He added that the department required a notification to delegate the additional charge of the CEO to the secretary energy and power.

Ayub’s appointment had been challenged by PEDO’s Accountant Fazal Rahim on the grounds that he was not eligible for the post and his appointment was a violation of merit. The petition had said that as Ayub’s background is in finance it violates the PEDO Act of 1993 which calls for a person who has experience in energy and power to become the CEO of the organisation.



In the June 7 order, the PHC disposed of the petition by striking down Ayub’s appointment and calling it illegal and in violation of merit.

Later, the PHC suspended its decision for a period of 60 days upon the request of K-P government so that it may file a review petition in the Supreme Court.

Advocate General Abdul Latif Yousufzai on Saturday filed the review petition after which the notification of the termination of Ayub’s services was issued.

Ayub is said to be close to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) central leader Asad Umar and petitioner Fazal Rahim had alleged, in his application, that Ayub has political backing of Umar.

It has also been reported that the K-P government is hoping to make changes in the PEDO Act 1993 via an ordinance which was approved by K-P’s cabinet in its last meeting.

The ordinance will make changes in the qualification required for the CEO’s slot. The ordinance would change the requirement for the appointment allowing any person with at least 15-year experience in the field of law, business, engineering, finance, accounts, economics or power industry.

Sources in the K-P government said that the main aim of the ordinance is to pave way for Ayub to become eligible for the CEO’s position if the K-P government loses its case in the apex court.