SC asked to intervene after ‘illegal’ appointment of chief economist
Economist Group alleges planning minister has hired inexperienced relative; ministry denies wrongdoing
The group has blamed the chief economist for poor economic planning due to his lack of knowledge. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Economist Group has approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan against alleged illegal appointment of Chief Economist Dr Nadeem Javaid by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, which may complicate matters for the vocal minister.
Economist Group President Dr Ali Bat, also the joint chief economist, has written a letter to the SC, seeking the apex court’s intervention in the case of alleged illegal appointment of the chief economist and has alleged illegal extension for the adviser development budget at the age of 70, according to the communiqué.
A spokesman for the planning ministry denied any wrongdoing in the appointment of the chief economist.
Challenges identified for next government
The Economist Group sent the letter to the SC on April 26, a day after the planning minister challenged if the court had any evidence against him about illegal appointments.
“Ahsan Iqbal has illegally appointed his inexperienced immature relative Dr Nadeem Javaid from outside the Economist Group as chief economist on contract in his ministry in violation of all rules,” said the letter.
It stated that the appointment was contrary to the appointment on merit of a senior-most, experienced and regular cadre government officer.
Historically, the chief economist’s position is a grade-22 slot. The Economist Group is one of the technocrat groups constituted under the Civil Service Reforms of 1973. The group is responsible for economic policymaking.
However, the group has blamed the chief economist for poor economic planning due to his lack of knowledge.
In a meeting of the Planning Commission board held last week under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Bat had also raised the issue of appointments on nepotism, according to sources, adding the premier expressed his reservations about the work done by the commission.
“All appointments in the Planning Commission have been made by following laid-down procedures,” commented Asim Niazi, spokesman for the planning ministry.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had appointed Javaid as chief economist from the private sector over three and a half years ago by relaxing some rules including reduction in required experience from 25 to 15 years.
According to the original job requirements, which were subsequently amended, the chief economist should have at least 10 years of experience in economic policymaking.
Javaid neither had 10 years of experience in economic policymaking nor did he meet minimum 15-year experience criterion, said an official of the Economist Group.
Responding to a question, Niazi said the federal cabinet, through a resolution, had eased the experience condition and the cabinet was fully empowered to take decisions for the appointment criteria.
On one occasion, the Islamabad High Court had stopped Javaid from working after senior-most officer of the Economist Group Ijaz Wasti challenged his appointment.
However, Wasti was allegedly pressurised by some senior government officials to either withdraw the case or get ready to be transferred to Balochistan. Wasti caved in to the pressure and withdrew the case.
Bat also went to the Islamabad High Court against the government for alleged illegal appointment of the adviser development budget.
“Ahsan Iqbal has also retained illegally more than 70-year-old Asif Sheikh on contract as adviser development budget in violation of all rules,” said the letter.
Through Sheikh, the minister was plundering the development budget, alleged the Economist Group president.
‘Pakistan’s economy faces challenges’ due to reforms’ reversal
“In view of the above and in the best public interest, we request (the SC) to take action against the culprits, rules’ violators and misuse of power and authority for their ill motives,” he said.
Last week, the apex court had suspended Lahore College for Women University vice chancellor Professor Uzma Qureshi on suspicion that she had been appointed on intervention of the planning minister.
However, Qureshi insisted that her appointment had been made on merit. The chief justice told her that the court had full knowledge of the role of Iqbal in her appointment.
“If a judge is patriot, so is a politician,” the minister told a seminar in Islamabad after the suspension of Qureshi. He also said the “CJP has no right to mock and insult us. Enough is enough.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2018.
The Economist Group has approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan against alleged illegal appointment of Chief Economist Dr Nadeem Javaid by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, which may complicate matters for the vocal minister.
Economist Group President Dr Ali Bat, also the joint chief economist, has written a letter to the SC, seeking the apex court’s intervention in the case of alleged illegal appointment of the chief economist and has alleged illegal extension for the adviser development budget at the age of 70, according to the communiqué.
A spokesman for the planning ministry denied any wrongdoing in the appointment of the chief economist.
Challenges identified for next government
The Economist Group sent the letter to the SC on April 26, a day after the planning minister challenged if the court had any evidence against him about illegal appointments.
“Ahsan Iqbal has illegally appointed his inexperienced immature relative Dr Nadeem Javaid from outside the Economist Group as chief economist on contract in his ministry in violation of all rules,” said the letter.
It stated that the appointment was contrary to the appointment on merit of a senior-most, experienced and regular cadre government officer.
Historically, the chief economist’s position is a grade-22 slot. The Economist Group is one of the technocrat groups constituted under the Civil Service Reforms of 1973. The group is responsible for economic policymaking.
However, the group has blamed the chief economist for poor economic planning due to his lack of knowledge.
In a meeting of the Planning Commission board held last week under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Bat had also raised the issue of appointments on nepotism, according to sources, adding the premier expressed his reservations about the work done by the commission.
“All appointments in the Planning Commission have been made by following laid-down procedures,” commented Asim Niazi, spokesman for the planning ministry.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had appointed Javaid as chief economist from the private sector over three and a half years ago by relaxing some rules including reduction in required experience from 25 to 15 years.
According to the original job requirements, which were subsequently amended, the chief economist should have at least 10 years of experience in economic policymaking.
Javaid neither had 10 years of experience in economic policymaking nor did he meet minimum 15-year experience criterion, said an official of the Economist Group.
Responding to a question, Niazi said the federal cabinet, through a resolution, had eased the experience condition and the cabinet was fully empowered to take decisions for the appointment criteria.
On one occasion, the Islamabad High Court had stopped Javaid from working after senior-most officer of the Economist Group Ijaz Wasti challenged his appointment.
However, Wasti was allegedly pressurised by some senior government officials to either withdraw the case or get ready to be transferred to Balochistan. Wasti caved in to the pressure and withdrew the case.
Bat also went to the Islamabad High Court against the government for alleged illegal appointment of the adviser development budget.
“Ahsan Iqbal has also retained illegally more than 70-year-old Asif Sheikh on contract as adviser development budget in violation of all rules,” said the letter.
Through Sheikh, the minister was plundering the development budget, alleged the Economist Group president.
‘Pakistan’s economy faces challenges’ due to reforms’ reversal
“In view of the above and in the best public interest, we request (the SC) to take action against the culprits, rules’ violators and misuse of power and authority for their ill motives,” he said.
Last week, the apex court had suspended Lahore College for Women University vice chancellor Professor Uzma Qureshi on suspicion that she had been appointed on intervention of the planning minister.
However, Qureshi insisted that her appointment had been made on merit. The chief justice told her that the court had full knowledge of the role of Iqbal in her appointment.
“If a judge is patriot, so is a politician,” the minister told a seminar in Islamabad after the suspension of Qureshi. He also said the “CJP has no right to mock and insult us. Enough is enough.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2018.