Chairman’s slot: Musharraf’s appointee could make comeback as NADRA chairman

Interior minister says anyone from current board could also be picked for the position.

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday dropped a hint that a man, who was once chosen by former president Pervez Musharraf as head of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), might be appointed again.

Brig (retd) Saleem Moeen, who had quit the authority in 2008, could be a possible replacement of Tariq Malik and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan does not seem to have any objections over Moeen’s relationship with Musharraf.

“We are thinking of bringing Saleem Moeen back to NADRA,” Nisar said after attending his first briefing on NADRA’s operations. However, he also said that the next chairman could also be from the current board, adding that in the past NADRA chiefs had never been appointed on merit.

“The new chairman will be appointed in a transparent manner for the first time in the history of the country,” the interior minister said.

“Lack of transparency and distortion of record at anybody’s behest or pressure is unacceptable,” he added.



Announcing certain policy decisions, the minister said he had banned NADRA personnel from interacting with foreigners without due permission. “Some of you handle very sensitive data, many people desire access to it,” he remarked.

He disclosed that the interior ministry had received reference from intelligence agencies that many officials in NADRA were occupying senior positions without proper security clearance.

“It is a serious issue and will be referred to the newly constituted NADRA board,” he added.

Talking about political appointments, he said thousands of people had been recruited since 2008 and the authority was still confused over the exact number. He said that despite the ban on jobs by the current government, hundreds of people had been secretly inducted without any advertisements.

“NADRA has become a recruiting agency and that is why 71 per cent of its budget goes into the payment of salaries,” Nisar said.

Talking about foreign postings, he said people had been sent on foreign postings without any scrutiny and many were still serving despite the expiry of their tenures.

“A reference will be sent to the NADRA board to ensure that those who had completed their terms be recalled,” Nisar said adding that from now on all foreign appointments will be made on merit and the NADRA chairman will not decide them.

He also asked NADRA to seek an explanation from Brig Zahid – who during his term as acting chairman – had given a 10 per cent salary raise to NADRA employees. The minister said if the Brig Zahid failed to respond within three days, the authority should take disciplinary action against him.

He also asked NADRA officials to continue the verification of thumb impressions of voters independently without any fear or favour and said those involved in the exercise did not need to brief the interior minister or the NADRA chief in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2014.