ISLAMABAD: Transparency International – Pakistan (TIP) recommended the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference against those responsible for the appointment of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) President and Chairman.
In a letter to Federal Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin, the international watchdog demanded action against the ministers responsible for the president’s appointment and the chairman.
The NAB has already registered references against Shaukat Aziz, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for illegal appointments, the organization maintained in the letter. “The appointment of the president and chairman of the National Bank was against the rules and were declared illegal,” the letter said.
The Islamabad High Court had earlier set aside appointments of Arif Usmani as the National Bank of Pakistan President and Zubair Soomro as the chairman of its board of directors in June.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on June 11 had reserved the verdict on a petition challenging the Jan 12, 2019 notification of these appointments.
The petition was filed by Syed Jahangir and others, who cited the Establishment Division, Finance Ministry, State Bank of Pakistan and Arif Usmani as respondents in the case.
According to the petitioner, the appointments had been made in violation of the constitutional rights that ensured equal opportunity for every citizen.
The petitioner pointed out that Transparency International had highlighted corruption in NBP, and its branches abroad were being closed down.
The petitioner asserted that Usmani did not meet the education criteria set for the post in the advertisement issued in this regard. His appointment violated the rules and laws of the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
