ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Defying a summons from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Asad Mehmood, son of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, failed to appear before the anti-graft watchdog on Monday in a case concerning alleged irregularities in appointments at Pakistan Post.
NAB, meanwhile, remained tight-lipped about its next course of action. In such cases, the bureau usually issues second and third notices before taking punitive action, including arrest, if the accused continues to ignore the summons.
Mr Mehmood had been directed to appear before the investigation team at 11am on Nov 10 to explain his position on alleged irregularities in 4,252 appointments made at Pakistan Post during his tenure as federal minister in 2022-23.
When contacted, a senior NAB official declined to disclose the bureau’s future course of action, saying that under the new laws, details of investigations could not be shared with the media until the relevant court had decided the case.
According to the notice, the Establishment Division had authorised recruitment against 3,938 posts at Pakistan Post, but 4,252 people were allegedly appointed, exceeding the approved strength. Of these, 2,646 appointments were reportedly made against posts that had already been abolished, in violation of a cabinet committee’s directions.
The bureau is also examining allegations that permanent appointments were made despite a recommendation for contractual recruitment, placing an additional financial burden on Pakistan Post. The alleged political affiliations of some selected candidates are also under scrutiny.
Other allegations include the use of forged documents, recruitment of over-age candidates and violations of the domicile quota.
