Suo motu notice: World Bank posting under apex court scrutiny
Hearing over PM Ashraf’s selection of son-in-law for key post fixed for December 19.
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu notice of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf using his discretionary powers to appoint his son-in-law, Raja Azeemul Haq, to the post of World Bank executive director (ED).
The court has fixed the hearing for December 19 (Wednesday) before a three-member bench headed by Justice Anwer Zaheer Jamali. The case has been clubbed with an ongoing hearing regarding Haq’s appointment in the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI).
Haq had been serving in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat as the additional secretary on a grade 21 post, after an out-of-turn promotion in the EOBI in BPS-20.
The decision to appoint Haq as the World Bank ED was taken despite resistance from Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, who tried to convince the premier to change his mind. In addition, the Economic Affairs Division, the department which was asked to formally move the summary, also opposed the move. The department suggested that a head-hunting committee or selection board be set up under the Establishment Division to select a suitable candidate.
The PM Secretariat, however, maintains that there was ‘nothing unusual’ about the move.
Policy experts were stunned by the appointment of a junior officer as a World Bank ED, a post which would enable him to represent a constituency of seven countries and afford him an annual salary of $220,000. It is feared that the move would not only bring embarrassment to the country but also compromise Islamabad’s stance on crucial economic issues.
The ED represents seven nations comprising Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana and Algeria on the World Bank’s Board. The ED and alternate executive director (AED) rotate between Pakistan and Algeria every two years.
The appointment requires endorsement from other constituent countries and, according to the finance ministry; the World Bank too has its own system to ensure merit before confirming such appointments.
The job of the ED and AED is to defend development projects of all seven countries on the WB Board, provide input on macroeconomic reports relating to the constituent countries, give opinions on global economic issues and defend the quotas and voting rights of the constituency.
Interestingly, Haq has been nominated to replace seasoned bureaucrat Javed Talat, who has also officiated as the federal finance secretary.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2012.
The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu notice of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf using his discretionary powers to appoint his son-in-law, Raja Azeemul Haq, to the post of World Bank executive director (ED).
The court has fixed the hearing for December 19 (Wednesday) before a three-member bench headed by Justice Anwer Zaheer Jamali. The case has been clubbed with an ongoing hearing regarding Haq’s appointment in the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI).
Haq had been serving in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat as the additional secretary on a grade 21 post, after an out-of-turn promotion in the EOBI in BPS-20.
The decision to appoint Haq as the World Bank ED was taken despite resistance from Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, who tried to convince the premier to change his mind. In addition, the Economic Affairs Division, the department which was asked to formally move the summary, also opposed the move. The department suggested that a head-hunting committee or selection board be set up under the Establishment Division to select a suitable candidate.
The PM Secretariat, however, maintains that there was ‘nothing unusual’ about the move.
Policy experts were stunned by the appointment of a junior officer as a World Bank ED, a post which would enable him to represent a constituency of seven countries and afford him an annual salary of $220,000. It is feared that the move would not only bring embarrassment to the country but also compromise Islamabad’s stance on crucial economic issues.
The ED represents seven nations comprising Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana and Algeria on the World Bank’s Board. The ED and alternate executive director (AED) rotate between Pakistan and Algeria every two years.
The appointment requires endorsement from other constituent countries and, according to the finance ministry; the World Bank too has its own system to ensure merit before confirming such appointments.
The job of the ED and AED is to defend development projects of all seven countries on the WB Board, provide input on macroeconomic reports relating to the constituent countries, give opinions on global economic issues and defend the quotas and voting rights of the constituency.
Interestingly, Haq has been nominated to replace seasoned bureaucrat Javed Talat, who has also officiated as the federal finance secretary.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2012.