Removal of SBP deputy governor

ECP will likely have to take many more such decisions, so it is important that precedent for its powers be set now.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given a very clear signal that it intends to take its activist role seriously and not be a silent bystander in the run-up to the May 11 general elections. The ECP has ordered the federal government to immediately remove State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Deputy Governor Ashraf Mahmood Wathra from his post because his impartiality is in doubt. Mr Wathra was appointed by former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf early last month on the recommendation of the SBP governor but his previous role as an executive director of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) is an issue for the ECP. There are accusations that the NBP gave politicians loans without collaterals that were never repaid. In his new post, Mr Wathra would then have a clear conflict of interest as the SBP will be assisting the ECP in identifying politicians who won’t be allowed to contest elections because of loan defaults.

The authority of the ECP to take this action should be beyond question but there have been attempts by the finance ministry to ignore these orders. The ECP had directed the halting of all political appointments, a directive which was observed only in the breach by the outgoing government. If the ECP feels that a certain appointment could come in the way of conducting free and fair elections, it has the right to take appropriate action. The caretaker government does not have the same powers over the conduct of the elections as the ECP and so, it should adhere to the commission’s directives.

In the coming weeks, the ECP will likely have to take many more such decisions, so it is important that the precedent for its powers be set now. The PPP government departed with a wave of appointments and spending projects that may now have to be overturned. The ECP is the proper body for making these decisions. The various government ministries should not insert themselves into that process.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2013.