IBA executive director granted 3-month extension

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has granted permission to the Sindh’s interim government to extend the tenure of Dr Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, by three months.

The chief minister had sent a letter to the ECP on December 28, seeking an extension in the tenure of Dr Zaidi, which the commission approved on January 5.  Dr Zaidi was supposed to step down after completing his four-year term on January 12. As per the ECP permission, if the Sindh government issues a letter extending Dr Zaidi’s tenure by three months without consideration, he will be able to serve as IBA Karachi Director until April 12, 2024.

The caretaker government had previously recommended a four-year extension for Dr Zaidi. Interim CM Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar approved this summary on November 13 and forwarded it to the ECP for final approval. However, the ECP rejected the summary. The caretaker CM again wrote to the commission seeking a four-year extension.