Privatisation minister, Waqar Ahmed Khan has fired his consultant Waqar Khawaja for disobeying his orders by not accompany him to London for a presentation to the investors on some entities posted for sale at London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Waqar Ahmed Khan issued orders of firing his consultant at Islamabad airport ahead of his departure to London a few days ago. Waqar Khawaja, was serving in Privatisation Commission as consultant on banking sector and Waqar Ahmed Khan, had included him in his entourage for going to LSE for the show which was never approved by the prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Another sideline development to Waqar Ahmed Khan's visit to London that the Finance ministry had not approved funding for it and the minister declared to bear the cost of tour including ticketing to lodging boarding from his pocket. However, he later directed his ministry to arrange funds from its sale proceeds, an illegal demand, on the federal minister part.
Sources said the Privatisation minister wanted to take a 16 member delegation most of them parliament members but prime minister rejected Privatisation summary and directed to its secretary not to allow such a big delegation to proceed to London for a mere presentation at LSE.
Since the plan of going to LSE was controversial in its basic concept the officials of the Privatisation Commission did not want to be its part to avoid any fallout in the future. Waqar Khawaja, was also among those who were skeptical to the minister's plan and its projected result and so he decided not to accompany him though he had got UK visa and completed the documentation for it also.
Waqar's disobedience annoyed the minister to such an extent that he issued verbal order of his consultant's dismissal. Waqar Khawaja's unceremonial dismal has given a strong message to other consultants of the commission. Privatisation Commission is already in mess as far as its human resource is concerned, Majority of its competent consultants have already left for some other organisations. Last event of firing of Waqar Khawaja will have far reaching impact on Privatisation Commission.