Blue eyed son-in-law

How to start, condemning PM Raja Pervez Ashraf for appointing his son-in-law as Executive Director of World Bank in Washington, DC  USA or applauding Supreme Court of Pakistan to take cognizance of such gross misconduct is a baffling situation I am faced with?

The news details are that PM Raja Pervez Ashraf using his discretionary powers has appointed his own son-in-law Raja Azeemul Haque to work as ED with WB in Washington which has been picked up by SC and therefore SC is turn has asked Federal Secretaries of Establishment and Finance Divisions to appear before the court on 4^th January, 2013 with all the documents regarding the latest appointment of Raja Azeem. It is worth mentioning that Azeem is basically Income Tax group officer who being placed in BPS-18 was at the second rung of our bureaucratic hierarchy when PPP took over the reins to rule the country but he being son-in-law of PM Raja Ashraf, has been very quickly elevated as high as BPS-21 within such short period of four years. Needless to mention on average an officer who had meritoriously served for around 25 years is likely to be promoted to BPS-21 and not before and this principle is being practiced for many long years. However, in his case an exception is made and Azeem has been posted to work at one of the most prestigious positions of Additional Secretary at PM House though in the past this post has been manned by only those who had put up around 25+ years service and not before but what one could do when he personally patted by none but PM.

It is also reported that Finance Ministry has objected to Azeem’s appointment as WB because he is too junior to man such a high position at global level but such like objections were brushed aside and PM approved the summary moved for appointment of Azeem who as ED of WB will be getting hefty amount of US $ 220,000 per annum salary along with many perks and facilities which he had never ever even dreamt in his day dreams but who could stop PM not to cross red line. Economic Affairs Division moved the summary when Finance Division had objected to such elevation and move. This being a position at WB needs truly intelligent, sharp and highly experienced person which had been the case till now. It is also very rightly feared in some concerned quarters that Azeem being a junior officer may not be able to cope up with the responsibilities assigned to and perform so efficiently and diligently as it is demanded of him at WB but again the codified principles and procedures have been totally ignored simply because his appointment is not based on merit but on personal choice of PM.

Without prejudice to what line of action SC will take on 4^th January in this case when both the federal secretaries are summoned to appear before the court in connection with WB appointment for Azeem it merits to say that unless and until such blatant action had been taken by PM, SC had not bothered to take cognizance as each and every appointment does not invite any interference from SC which is already over burdened with many court cases so it cannot afford to engage itself in such like matters. However, one way or the other, over the recent past years it is very conspicuously noted that the incumbent SC has many times took initiative at its own where gross irregularities have been committed on appointments and transfers etc which strictly speaking do not fall within the judicial jurisdiction of SC but being a defender of the constitution SC has to poke its nose and regretfully the hard fact is that it did put us back on the track when our executive authorities tried to stray off the track. Few months back, SC had to foot down about posting of officials in FIA in connection with investigations of some very important embezzlement and corruption cases where PM and Interior Minister had changed members of the investigation teams which irked SC and as a matter of fact that should have put us on guard not to take an action which can be objected or challenged but alas we did not learn any lesson otherwise Azeem case has not cropped up.

Shouldn’t it be the last time that SC is invited to ask what not judicial but administrative work is? Does any of my respected compatriot be male or female living back home in my beloved Pakistan or overseas like me support me? Who opposes me is a good thrilling question in any case?

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait