Illegal appointments:

KP NAB files reference against former PTB chief, others

By Akhtar Amin

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (NAB KP) on Saturday filed a reference against Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB)’s former chairman and other officials in the accountability court for their alleged involvement in illegal appointments.

The NAB KP submitted a reference against former PTB chairman Sahibzada Muhammad Khalid, former secretary Noman Bashir, former deputy secretary administration Muhammad Kamal, former administrative officers Fakhruddin and Abdul Hameed and administrative officer Bakht Jamal.

It was submitted in the reference that the PTB officials committed corruption and corrupt practices by

misusing their authority in the recruitment in different

categories during the

period 2010-11.

It said that the NAB KP took cognizance of the matter and authorised an inquiry into the illegal appointments. Upon confirmation of the allegations, it said the inquiry was converted into investigation.

The reference pointed out that oral and documentary evidence was collected during the investigation and this basis the investigation officer submitted final report.

It noted that PTB is federal entity created and governed by Pakistan Tobacco Board Ordinance of 1968 and rules framed there-under and came under the Ministry of Commerce.

In the reference, it was submitted that scrutiny of the record regarding appointments during 2010-11 revealed that the Ministry of Commerce had imposed ban on the appointments in PTB due to non-existence of the board during the period 2010-12. It said this was properly communicated to the accused persons.

It said that despite ban on the appointments, the former chairman PTB in connivance with former secretary and other accused knowingly and with ulterior motives misused his authority and violated the ban and made 41 illegal appointments in PBS-02 to PBS-16 including appointment of one employee in BPS-18 on deputation and another in BPS-17 in violation of quota, merit and age. It alleged that in some cases the appointments were made without advertisement.

It said the former chairman after his retirement on May 23, 2011 handed over charge to the former secretary PTB Peshawar as acting chairman till the posting of a new chairman.

The NAB claimed that the accused secretary in his capacity as acting chairman, a post that does not exist anywhere in the rules, proceeded to illegally, dishonestly and malafidely exercise full powers as chairman PTB and illegally appoint 36 persons in violation of PTB Service Rules 1985.

According to NAB, the secretary was well aware of the fact that the Ministry of Commerce had imposed ban on the appointments in PTB.

The NAB said that the other accused worked in the connivance with the chairman and secretary PTB as they aided, assisted and abetted in making illegal appointments.

It added that the evidence collected during investigation established that the accused dishonestly and in connivance with each other misused their official authority and made illegal appointments in the PTB.

It pleaded before the accountability court to try the suspects under the NAB law for their alleged involvement in illegal appointments by misusing their official authority. It also submitted a list of witnesses in the case.