Appointment of ETPB chairman postponed again

ISLAMABAD: The appointment of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman has been postponed.

According to the sources, a summary to appoint the ETPB chairman was sent to the federal cabinet for approval but this agenda item was not discussed during the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Earlier, a summary was sent to the cabinet in this regard on behalf of the Ministry of Religious Affairs but the prime minister directed to take clearance of candidates from agencies.

The sources said that the post of ETPB chairman has been lying vacant for the last one year. Currently, Additional Secretary Attaur Rehman has been given charge of this slot. Selection board, headed by Federal Religious Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, had conducted interviews for the ETPB chairman post on April 23. The panel of three candidates was sent to the PM office after the interviews. The names of former chairman ETPB Syed Habibur Rehman Gilani, former secretary Ejaz Ahmad Khan and Brig (R) Mumtaz Iqbal were included in the panel.

Brig (R) Mumtaz Iqbal remained an active leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and contested election for the National Assembly (NA) on PTI ticket.

After three months of interviews, the cabinet did not give approval of appointment for the ETPB chairman.