PMDC managing director sent packing

Khokhar removed after appointment challenged.

Khokhar is the third head of a state-owned company, which comes under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, who has been sent packing. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:
The caretaker government on Monday sacked the head of another public sector company, Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation, Brigadier (retd) Muhammad Khalid S Khokhar with immediate effect on the grounds of irregularities in his appointment.

The caretaker government has already removed heads of Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) and Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL). Khokhar is the third head of a state-owned company, which comes under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, who has been sent packing. The Establishment Division has issued a notification in this regard.

Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had appointed Khokhar as managing director of PMDC in February this year allegedly by flouting laid-down procedures.

His appointment annoyed the petroleum ministry as it was believed that the ministry’s input was not sought for filling such an important slot. Earlier, the ministry gave advertisements for seeking applications from potential candidates for the post and had been in the process of short-listing the candidates. In the meantime, the prime minister made the appointment.


According to sources, the caretaker government is also likely to terminate the contract of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited Managing Director Arif Hameed and Sui Southern Gas Company MD Zuhair Siddiqui before the new government takes over.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had also asked the caretaker government to immediately remove the heads of the two state-owned gas utilities, saying they might influence the polls through sanctioning gas development schemes. But they remained in place after the petroleum ministry argued that they were appointed according to the rules and procedures. “Now once again, a move is underway to remove them,” a source said.

Former premier Ashraf had extended Arif Hameed’s contract by a year, six months before its expiry. His term was due to end in September 2013, but it was extended until September next year.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2013.

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