PPP’s Shagufta Jumani seeks reply on appointments to foreign missions. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A written reply to the National Assembly by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Peer Syed Sardaruddin Shah Rashidi addressed what appears to be a pitiful case of nepotism.
MNA Shagufta Jumani of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party sought a reply regarding what she termed were politically-motivated postings of 18 community welfare attaches. “The matter should be investigated to see where rules were violated and why,” she said, questioning if these postings were made under any quota.
According to the response, the appointments were made under the supervision of then ministers for Overseas Pakistanis, the PPP’s Syed Khursheed Shah and the MQM’s Farooq Sattar.
The ‘favourites’
Sardar Balakh Sher Khosa, son of former governor Punjab Latif Khosa, was appointed as counsellor in London on a private quota without observing rules. Later, Khosa was transferred from London to Sydney. The reply revealed that Syed Akbar Adil Shah, brother-in-law of former federal minister for labour and manpower Syed Khursheed Shah, was appointed as counsellor in Toronto. His tenure was extended by two years.
Dr Riaz Hussain Laang, a family friend of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was appointed as second secretary in Dubai after Gilani recommended him to the ministry. Gilani also directed the ministry to appoint Rabnawaz Khan of the Police Service of Pakistan in Kuwait as the second secretary; Muhammad Humair Karim was appointed Counsellor in Seoul and Chaudhry Nadeem Arshad of ISI in Kuala Lumpur as first secretary.
Mir Ghulam Farooq Longove, a close friend of Syed Khurshid Shah, was posted as second secretary in Abu Dhabi. Similarly, Amir Rehman was posted as second secretary in Tripoli on recommendations of Khursheed Shah, who also recommended Moeenudin of ISI as first secretary in Riyadh-I.
Dr Mazharul Haq Kakakhel was appointed counsellor in Jeddah-I on the recommendations of ex-K-P chief minister Amir Haider Hoti, who sent a reference letter to Sattar.
Syed Maqsood Qaiser Shah was also appointed as counsellor in Bahrain in April for two years but his tenure was later extended; he was recommended by Anwar Ali Cheema. Similarly, Syed Tehseenul Haq was appointed as first secretary Jeddah-II after former NBP president, Ali Raza recommended his name to Sattar.
Fiza Batool, daughter of former managing director, National Education Foundation,Kamran Zaffar was posted in Milan as first secretary, and later transferred to London.
Sajid Mahmood Qazi was appointed counsellor in Manchester and Dr Akhtar Abbas was appointed as counsellor this year. Tariq Shamim was appointed Counsellor in Houston and Mureed Rahimoon was appointed counsellor in Los Angeles in June. Three posts of Counsellors are lying vacant in New York, Athens and Pretoria.
Maqsood Qadir Shah was appointed counsellor in Bahrain Embassy. Hammad Abid was appointed Second Secretary in Riyadh while a post is vacant in Riyadh I. Rashid Nizam and Syed Muhammad Farooq were appointed counsellors in Doha and New York respectively on Dr Farooq Sattar’s recommendation, while Haroon Waqar Malik was appointed in Dubai-I through Dr Sattar.
Shahid Javed was appointed as first secretary in Muscat. Azhar Raza Hashmi was appointed counsellor (private sector) in Kuala Lampur. Muhammad Salim was appointed first secretary in Oslo while Nooruddin was appointed Second Secretary in Kuwait. Aslam Ghauri was appointed counsellor in Barcelona, Spain.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2013.
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