Pakistan Baitul Mal boss: New MD’s appointment challenged

Says not making notification public was against fundamental rights.

ISLAMABAD:

The appointment of the new Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) managing director (MD) has been challenged in the apex court by Awami Muslim League Pakistan President Sheikh Rashid Ahmad.

Ahmad, through his counsel Sardar Abdul Raziq Khan, filed a petition in the apex court asking it to declare the appointment illegal.

The petitioner’s counsel Sardar Abdul Raziq Khan challenged the appointment as unlawful and in violation of precedent set by the apex court and contended that PBM was among 100 organisations identified and included in the June 12 judgment for the Khawaja Muhammad Asif case.

“According to that judgment, the PBM head is to be appointed through a process initiated by the Federal Commission for Selection of Heads of Public Sector Organisations through a transparent process”, he added.

The petition also asks if an appointment falling in the purview of the commission could be made without the commission’s recommendation and asks “whether the selection of the incumbent MD was transparent, open, and was carried out in a fair manner or was based on favouritism, nepotism and political consideration.”

The applicant alleged that new office bearer used political and personal links with key figures in the government to acquire the job.

Ahmad has also stated that despite trying his level best, he could not get a copy of the notification from Establishment Division, the Prime Minister Secretariat, or PBM.

“Although right of information has been guaranteed as a fundamental right to every citizen under Article 19-A of the constitution, no such copy of the notification has been made public,” said the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2013.