Commerce Minister, Makhdoom Amin Fahim has, reportedly recommended the name of Karman Qureshi, a grade 22 officer of District Management Group (DMG) as Commerce Secretary, official sources told Business Recorder. Presently Qureshi is working in Commerce Ministry as Additional Secretary and is considered as an honest man.
Chaudhry Qamar-uz-Zaman, former Secretary Interior, one of the signatories of NICL's controversial real estate deal and currently Additional Secretary Commerce and Hamayat Ullah Khan, Senior Joint Secretary, Economic Affairs Division (EAD) were also amongst the top contestants. However, Commerce Minister has recommended the name of Kamran Qureshi for new Secretary Commerce.
Zafar Mahmood, who recently relinquished charge of Secretary Commerce after his transfer and posting as Secretary Water and Power, wrote a letter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to register a separate case in respect of appointment of Ayaz Khan Niazi as Chairman NICL obviously against incumbent Commerce Minister, on the directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
According to sources, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, was annoyed at Zafar Mahmood for writing a letter to the FIA which was the main reason for his transfer. When Zafar Mahmood, requested Commerce Minister to use his political clout to cancel his transfer, the latter simply stated that Ahmad Mukhtar made a humble request to which he could not refuse.