When Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani fired all of the heads of the state-owned oil and gas companies in April, it was ostensibly to replace them with more qualified individuals. However, it appears that at least one of the acting heads of those companies has found a way to stick around.
Azim Iqbal Siddiqui, the acting managing director of the Sui Southern Gas Company, has reportedly succeeded in persuading the petroleum ministry to approve a controversial set of criteria for hiring a new MD for the company that seems tailor-made for Siddiqui’s own candidacy.
All state-owned energy companies put forth new criteria for hiring managing directors, but the one’s Siddiqui put forth for SSGC differ from those of the other companies in two critical aspects.
Firstly, in contrast to the other companies that will require at least a masters degree in a relevant field, the criteria for the SSGC’s head allows for a candidate with just a bachelors degree, compensating for that with a higher work experience requirement.
The other companies would require 20 years of relevant work experience for candidates who must have at least a masters degree. SSGC, however, will allow candidates with just a bachelors’ degree to apply so long as they have 30 years of experience, which Siddiqui has.
The second major difference is the age limit. While the other oil and gas companies are looking for candidates at least 55 years old and no older than 60, the SSGC’s criteria have no upper age limit, in what appears to be a violation of directives by the Supreme Court.
Siddiqui is currently 59 years old and is due to retire in six months. The apex court had placed a bar on employing retired officials over the age of 60 to senior positions in state-owned companies and government departments.
The candidates for the heads of some of the largest companies in the country will be interviewed by a selection committee, headed by Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain.
When contacted by The Express Tribune, the acting head of SSGC confirmed his intention to apply for the position.
“Yes, my qualification is graduation and a graduate can become (an) MD. I will appear for an interview for the job of the new SSGC managing director on September 19,” he said.
Siddiqui joined SSGC in 1974 and was promoted to managing director in 2007.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2011.
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