PESHAWAR: AnwarulHaq Yousafzai, the chief executive officer of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) is likely tobe replaced in the coming days, informed sources told The News.
The sources said ShabbirAhmad, presently serving as director development inPesco, is being appointed as the next chief executive officer of the company.
The decision to this effect has been taken by the federal water and power ministry, which controls all the electricity distribution companies in the country.
The water and power ministry, headed by federal ministerand senior PML-N leaderKhwajaMohammadAsif, had earlier on Friday suddenly dissolved thePesco’sboard of directors. The sources said this action was taken to pre-empt any opposition by the board of directors to the removal ofAnwarulHaqYousafzaiand the appointment ofShabbirAhmad in his place as the chief executive officer.
The board of directors ofPescohad earlier in 2015 strongly opposed the appointment ofPervezAkhtarShah as the chief executive officer of the company.PervezAkhtarShah was removed a week after his appointment due to opposition of the board of directors and also thePescoemployees who refused to cooperate with him.Soon after he was forcedto quitasPesco’schief executive officer,PervezAkhtarShah was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on corruption charges.
It appears that the ministry of water and power was concerned that the board of directors could create hurdles in thesacking of Anwarul HaqYousafzaiandappointment ofShabbirAhmad as his replacement.
MalikAsad, thePescoboard ofdirectorschairman, also belongs to the PML-N along with some other members of the board.Under his chairmanship, the board of directors took decisions that benefitedPescoand reduced its losses.
AnwarulHaqYousafzaihas served for one year only as thePescochief executive officer. He was appointed on merit after being shortlisted for the job along with two other top candidates. However, his appointment got delayed for one and a half year due to politicalmanoeuvring. In fact, it is alleged that a senior politician from KhyberPakhtunkhwawho is an ally of the PML-N was instrumental in the appointment ofPervezAkhtarShah and is expected to play a role again in gettingShabbirAhmad appointed as the chief executive officer.