Pakistan

Official matters: NAB officers promoted

Sources say officials, allegedly leaking information, were promoted in a bid to silence them.

Asad Kharal March 10, 2013

Six former army officers working in NAB as directors-general were elevated to BPS-21 from BPS-20. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE:

Ten National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officers holding key posts, including 6 ex-army men, have been promoted to BPS-20 and BPS-21, with BPS-22 being the highest.

Most of these officers are currently supervising investigations of high-profile, mega corruption cases, such as OGRA and RRP.

According to sources in NAB, the position upgrades were made in a bid to distance these officials – who expressed willingness to take up foreign posts – as they were allegedly providing information to the Supreme Court and leaking information about high-profile dignitaries to the media. The disclosed information included tidbits on Premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and various federal ministers.

Six former army officers working in NAB as directors-general were elevated to BPS-21 from BPS-20. Four officers serving as directors at the bureau’s headquarters were promoted to BPS-20, superseding some of their seniors.

Of the six men promoted to grade 21, only one holds a masters degree.

A board meeting regarding the promotions was held at the NAB headquarters in Islamabad. Chairman Fasih Bokhari, Deputy Chairman Saeed Sarghana, Sindh chapter DG Wajid Durrani, and a representative from the Establishment Division were present.

Ironically, in an earlier meeting held on February 18, the name of one of the former army men recently promoted was deferred by the board because he was considered ineligible for BPS-21. Amongst the remaining five, three names were not even considered then.

However, after strong protest from the officers, and possible underlying threats, Chairman Bokhari and the federal government finally agreed to promote 10 men on the condition that most of them will be posted abroad. Out of those promoted, 8 officers will take up the accountability attaché role in Pakistan’s missions overseas.

Sources said Prime Minister Ashraf has already approved the summary and budget of the eight new posts that will be created.

Meanwhile, interviews of nine shortlisted candidates for 4 newly created director-general posts have been conducted at the NAB headquarters.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2013.