Pakistan: Illegal post: Court-martialled army officer grabs NAB post

The Express Tribune

After revelations that Adviser to Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem was court-martialled by Pakistan Air Force, a similar case of a high-ranking National Accountability Bureau officer being court-martialled by Pakistan Army has come to light. Sources familiar with the development revealed to The Express Tribune that Husnain Ahmed, currently serving as Director General NAB Punjab was court-martialled by the army during training of Pakistan Military Academy Long Course-69. According to the Army Act, a person who is court-martialled cannot hold any public office or government post. Ahmed and three others were also appointed as directors-general on BPS-21 post in NAB by ex-chief Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari when the caretaker government was in power. After the Supreme Court passed an order suspending appointments and transfers made by the caretaker government, these four newly appointed DGs – DG Human Resources and Finance Altaf Bahawani, DG Operations NAB headquarters Zahir Shah, DG NAB Headquarters Brigadier (retd) Farooq Nasir Awan and Ahmed – are still occupying these positions illegally . Bokhari appointed them despite the fact that the Election Commission of Pakistan, in response to the accountability body’s letter, barred it from making new appointments. But NAB concealed these facts from the apex court as well as the implementation cell of the federal government that was established regarding careful review of all decisions and directives of the caretaker government in compliance of Supreme Court’s orders. The contents of the letter of the Cabinet Division vide No1/2/2013-IMP-II available with The Express Tribune reads, “The Prime Minister has desired that the Cabinet Division may undertake a holistic review of all directives issued/decisions taken during the incumbency of the caretaker government and re-submit them for orders of the Prime Minister whenever appropriate. “It is therefore requested that all directives issued/decisions taken by the caretaker government may please be conveyed to this division for desired action.” Despite receiving this letter, NAB has concealed facts from the Cabinet Division in its reply that no appointments and transfers were made during the interim setup. Sources also revealed that Ahmed is occupying two official residences at the same time in Islamabad and Lahore despite the fact that a public servant is entitled to only one official residence.