ISLAMABAD: A shareholder of the Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL) has challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) the appointment of a 68-year-old retired official as managing director of the company and his demand for a monthly salary of Rs4.5 million.

On a petition filed by Jamshed Mir, IHC’s Justice Athar Minallah has issued notices to the principal secretary to the prime minister, secretaries of petroleum ministry and establishment division, chairmen of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and director general of the Federal Investigation Agency.

Through his counsel Hashmat Ali Habib, the petitioner argued before the court that the government on Sept 27, 2014 appointed Shahid Ismail as managing director of the GHPL. His predecessor Arshad Nasir was drawing a monthly salary of Rs600,000.

In addition to the said post, the federal government made Mr Ismail the acting managing director of the Pakistan State Oil after removal of Amjad Pervez Janjua following the January 2015 fuel crisis.

The petition alleged that instead of seeking a monthly salary of Rs600,000 the managing director of the GHPL had moved a summary which had raised his salary to Rs4.5m.

According to the petition, the incumbent is “pressurising directors of the board of GHPL for approval of his unprecedented monthly salary of about Rs4.5 million, excluding perks”.

The petition said the appointment itself “violated the principles of merit and transparency”. It said that Mr Ismail did not hold relevant and valid experience to operate and manage a company like the GHPL. He is supposed to look after the interests of the petroleum ministry including structured exploration and production, licences and leases.

The petition alleged that Mr Ismail was also involved in several cases pending with the NAB.

It pointed out that Mr Ismail retired from Pakistan International Airlines some 16 years back and could not fulfil the requirement of “profound experience of oil and gas industry and infrastructure in Pakistan”.

It added: “Appointing a retired individual to such a demanding position is itself a move that deprives professionals with relevant experience and knowledge (of the opportunity) to serve in this capacity.”

The petition requested the court to set aside the said appointment.

The IHC directed the respondents to submit a reply in a fortnight and adjourned the hearing.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2015

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