KP government amending PEDO Act to save CEO

PESHAWAR: The PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to amend the PEDO Act through an ordinance to save from dismissal the KP Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akbar Ayub.

But the Law Department has expressed reservations to this move, seeing no rationale in it. On June 16, some members of the KP cabinet rejected amendment to the PEDO Act to save one person. The PHC in the first week of June declared the appointment of Akbar Ayub as illegal from February 18, 2015. Ayub had got two-month time from the PHC to file an appeal with the Supreme Court, which will end on August 12.

The provincial government, as per the PTI chief Imran Khan’s direction, is active to save Akbar Ayub, who did not attend calls or answer any message of this correspondent.  The PTI government, after failure of its cabinet to amend the Act, has decided to do so through an ordinance. The provincial government wanted to change qualification for appointment of the CEO so that he gets protection since the day of his appointment. The department has drafted the
 amendment recommending that qualification for appointment of the CEO should be changed from experience in energy and power to 12 years experience in law, business, engineering, finance and power industry. It aims to protect Akbar Ayub in the court of law as he has a degree and experience in finance. In the cabinet, Sikandar Sherpao and an ally minister had opposed this amendment and after some changes, the bill was approved in principle with some changes. 

The Law Department has raised four objections to the draft for amending the Act through an ordinance on August 2. It mentioned that there is no reason for this amendment only to save one individual. It said that on one hand, it is being directed to access the Supreme Court and on the other an amendment is being prepared. It stated that no education is mentioned for the post of CEO in the draft as it mentions only 12-year experience. In the fourth objection, it asked what national interest was kept in mind for drafting this amendment. 

The Law Department has proposed that a Grade 20 officer should be made Pedo CEO and the organisation should review the draft keeping in mind these objections and resend it for further action. Sikandar Sherpao has said that he had opposed the amendment because it aimed to protect one individual, and because it is illegal after the court decision against Akbar Ayub. He said the cabinet had approved re-advertisement of the post of CEO after approving the act in principle. 

The PHC had ordered that since Akbar Ayub does not qualify for the post, a qualified person should be appointed as the CEO. Akbar Ayub had got from Pedo Board Rs10,000,000 to challenge the PHC decision in the SC.