ZTBL chief’s appointment challenged in court

Petitioner says appointment made in violation of rules

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought para-wise comments and report from the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in a case challenging appointment of Sheikh Amanullah as chief operating officer (COO) of the bank.

The directions came in response to a petition filed by a former ZTBL vice president Naseer Pervez Qureshi challenging the appointment of Sheikh Amanullah as COO.

The petitioner has listed ZTBL, its board of directors, State Bank of Pakistan governor, finance secretary, FIA director general and NAB chairman as respondents. They have been directed to submit their replies in a fortnight. In the petition, Qureshi through his cousel Mir Afzal Malik claimed that Amanullah managed an “unusual increase” in his salary within two years of his appointment. His salary was Rs355,429 in 2013 and is Rs800,000 in 2015, the petitioner said.

The petitioner stated that the post was filled without being advertised and Amanullah was appointed without any competitive process. He added that the post of COO was not a promotional post and could not be filled by a serving ZTBL official.

The petitioner has requested the court to set aside the said appointment and send the case to investigation agency. He has also sought that the amount Amanullah has withdrawn from the bank so far be recovered.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2015.