MoC told to induct Shehryar Talpur in C&T Group

Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, has directed Commerce Ministry to induct Shehryar Talpur, trade officer in Santiago (Chile), in the Commerce and Trade Group (C&T) in grade 19. Well informed sources confided to Business Recorder that Prime Minister's Principal Secretary has written a letter to Secretary Commerce, Zafar Mahmood, for induction of Shehryar Talpur in C&T Group.
Shehryar is from the private sector and his appointment, like others in that category, has already been challenged in Islamabad High Court (IHC). Shehryar Talpur, an outsider to the C&T Group, is the son of Pakistan Peoples Party's Member National Assembly, Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, who reportedly pressurised officials of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to disclose the names of those involved in the notorious NICL land procurement scam that resulted in Senior Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and his family being implicated in the Rs 42 million scam.
He, however, later clarified that the amount in question has been returned. The source said after the publication of names of Makhdoom Amin Fahim and his family in the media, Abdul Ghani Talpur faced severe criticism from the loyalists of Makhdoom family.
Insiders in the Commerce Ministry maintain that induction of Shahryar Talpur in the C&D Group will be a slap in the face of Senior Commerce Minister, who recently accompanied Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani during his official visit to Saudi Arabia.
Senior Commerce Minister, so revealed his close friends, will oppose induction of Shehryar Talpur, in C&T Group tooth and nail, but the general perception is that he will not be able to block the move if the prime minister decides to grant Nawab Talpur the favour. Informed sources revealed to this scribe that Amin Fahim would be supported by the C&T Group which has indicated it would challenge the induction of Talpur.
Commerce Ministry, sources said, is also being asked to pay Rs 3.5 million to a lawyer who is a senior leader of PPP to contest the case in the IHC and vacate the stay. According to sources, Commerce Ministry has sought the opinion of Law Ministry for payment of Rs 3.5 million to the concerned lawyer, who will be the third one contracted to fight the case.
Earlier, Prime Minister through his incumbent Principal Secretary had directed the Commerce Ministry to get the stay vacated but the task has not yet been accomplished. Commerce and Trade Group is being represented by senior advocate Ashtar Ausaaf Ali. Dispute between the Commerce Ministry and Trade Group emerged after the Commerce Ministry appointed four trade officers from the private sector allegedly on the instructions of Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. Two of those selected were closely associated with political bigwigs whereas the other two are also well connected. The performance of these trade officers is considered poor. However, when Commerce Ministry advertised for selection of new trade officers for 24 stations, Commerce and Trade Group blocked the whole process by challenging previous appointments in court.
The list of trade offices which were vacant as on July 3, 2011 are as follows: (i) Counsel General Montreal; (ii) Commercial Counsellor, Rome; (iii) Commercial Counselor, Nairobi, (iv) Commercial Counselor, Astana; (v) Commercial Counsellor, Casablanca; (vi) Commercial Counsellor, Dhaka; (vii) Commercial Secretary, Houston and; (viii) Commercial Secretary, Tripoli.
Trade officers who have completed or are completing four year tenure are as follows: (i) Abdul Majid Yousfani, Commercial Counsellor, Maxico ( recalled on June 3, 2011);(ii) Dr Muhammad Saeed Khan Jadonn, Tehran( recalled on August 8, 2010); ( iii) Muhammad Misbah Tunio, Trade Minister, Kandhar (January 20, 2010);( iv) Azam Muhammad, Counsel General, Sydney( April 23, 2010) ;(v) Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Commercial Counsellor, Bangkok(June 29, 2010); (vi) Babar Hayat Tarar, Commercial Counsellor Bangkok (April 30, 2011-extended tenure);(vii) Bilal Khan Pasha, Commercial Counsellor, Abu Dhabi ( June 21, 2010);(ix) Javed Akbar, Commercial Counsellor, Stockholm( April 30, 2011 extended tenure);(x) Ms Saira Najeeb Ahmed, Commercial Counsellor, London ( April 30, 2011, extended tenure);(xi) Faiz Rasool, Commercial Counsellor, Kabul( February 19, 2010);(xi) Mian Asad Hayaud Din, Commercial Counsellor, Chicago( August 10, 2010);(xii) Viqar Mahmood, Khiliji, Commercial Counsellor, Berlin( December 21, 2010); (xii) Awais Manzur Sumra, Commercial Counsellor, Athens ( June 23, 2011);(xiii) Dr Naeem Khan, Commercial Counsellor, Beijing( July 29, 2010);(ixx) Ahmad Mukhtar, Commercial Secretary , Geneva ( September, 10, 2010) ;(xx) Muhammad Akhtart, Commercial, Baku( May 30, 2010);(xxi) Ziaullah Shams, Commercial Secretary, Riyadh( May 8, 2011 and Naseer Khan Kashani, Commercial Secretary, Cairo( May 22,2011).
A senior Commerce Ministry official told Business Recorder that since the C&T Group has blocked the trade officers' selection process it is the responsibility of the ministry to expedite its efforts to get the stay vacated. "We are ready to accommodate C&T Group in the postings but it's not right to block the whole process," he added. An Additional Secretary Commerce Ministry, Shahid Rahim Shaikh, had been given the task to convince the C&T Group to withdraw their petition, but he failed in this endeavour. A Commerce and Trade Group officer questioned why Secretary Commerce is trying to get the stay order vacated and not contesting the case on merit?