ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday gave legal cover to the tenure of acting managing director of state-run oil giant Pakistan State Oil (PSO) who had been working on the post since the past eleven months.
The Establishment Division had earlier claimed that there were irregularities in the appointment of Amjad Pervez Janjua as top man of PSO.
A copy of official documents available with Dawn disclosed that the premier accorded approval to Janjua's appointment with effect from October 2013 and also permitted Janjua to continue work on ‘look after basis’ until a regular appointment is made for the post.
When contacted by Dawn.com, Janjua said he was not authorised to talk about his appointment or extension to job tenure. "Yes, I am open to talk on business matters of the country's largest oil marketing company," he said.
However, Secretary Petroleum Abid Saeed confirmed the appointment of the acting MD.
He said the previous 11-month tenure has now been regularised with the approval of PM and that the incumbent would continue working as acting MD until the selection of the next regular MD of the state-run oil marketing company (OMC).
Moreover, a new PSO Board has recently been constituted.
"Appointment of regular MD is likely to take place within two to three months," secretary petroleum claimed while responding to a question.
Interestingly, Establishment Division (ED) had earlier declared the appointment irregular on a summary of petroleum ministry sent to PM Office in October last year.
The ED pointed out that “earlier [the] petroleum ministry moved a summary for the premier regarding termination of contract appointment of Muhammad Naeem Yahya Mir as MD PSO with immediate effect and look after the work of MD PSO for three months to Amjad Pervez Janjau, Senior General manager till the selection of a regular incumbent by the Commission.”
“PM vide order dated 26-07-2013 was pleased to approve the proposal of ED contained in para 9 of the summary which, inter-alia provided that Amjad Pervez janjua, Senior General Manager, PSO may be allowed to look after the appointment of a regular incumbent, whichever is earlier.
And, in compliance, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (MPNR) issued notification on 29-07-2013. However, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources omitted the words “whichever is earlier” in aforementioned notification.
In result, appointment of Amjad Pervez Janjua on look after basis is irregular beyond the period of three months.
Therefore, ex-post facto approval of the Prime Minister is required for beyond the period of three months from 28-10-2013,” document said.
The petroleum ministry in its summary forwarded to PM Office seeking approval for MD’s job extension had given a unique basis for the job extension of Amjad Pervez Janjua and projected that Ministry/BoD (Board of Director) has been constantly reviewing the performance of MD PSO.
The summary also said that PSO’s BoD had been restructured with the approval of the prime minister.
The new board has been asked to complete the process of the appointment of new MD PSO expeditiously.
The ministry summary further advocated that “in view of above, honorable Prime Minister is requested to kindly accord approval beyond three months with effect from October 28, 2013 onwards till the regular appointment of CEO/MD.”