Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau is in the line of fire after one of its former officials exposed the shortcomings in appointments, including that of Director General Aliya Rasheed.

The Supreme Court (SC) is likely to listen to former additional director on Wednesday in this regard.

Former additional director (HR) Dr Shaista Nuzhat had written letters to the NAB deputy chairman NAB and establishment secretary against illegal induction of Aliya Rasheed, but NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman surprisingly sent back Dr Shaista to her parent department instead of taking action against Aliya. Later, Dr Shaista was made an OSD, to which she moved the SC.

Dr Shaista wrote in her letter that Aliya was initially appointed purely against a project post for a certain fixed period in the Pakistan Literacy Commission under the administrative control of the defunct federal m/o education, which was funded through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Aliya had concealed the fact that her recruitment was never converted from development to non-development budget. Even her appointment was not on a contract basis. Nevertheless, she wrongly stated at all forums that she was in BS-18. She did not meet the requisite criteria for transfer/ appointment/induction in NAB prescribed under the relevant rules.

The summary for the chief executive regarding her induction submitted by NAB was returned by the Establishment Division highlighting certain valid observations.

It is surprising that the summary was not sent back to the competent authority through the Establishment Division by adopting evasive measures and observations.

Consequently, her initial induction and subsequent promotions in NAB are illegal, which need to be probed, the letter read.

Shaista requested NAB high-ups to kindly declare Aliya’s appointment, induction and promotions in NAB as void ab initio, illegal and unlawful.

Sources told Daily Times that the SC has admitted the application and case has been fixed for Wednesday for hearing. Dr Shaista has challenged the NAB chairman’s action against her and requested the court to declare Aliya Rasheed’s appointment unlawful.

Sources said NAB has submitted reply in the court. NAB spokesman was not available for comment.