A few 'influential' personalities with strong political association with the former PPP-led coalition government, are continuing to enjoy executive authority even in the caretaker set up including Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party's flagship programme, Benazir Income Support (BISP), Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) and Managing Director (MD) Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal.
Despite massive reshuffle and removal of high ranking officers in federal government, the caretakers are silent on the continued perks and privileges enjoyed by the appointees of the former government at the tax payers' expense. They are not working as regular employees or under any contract but inexplicably the caretakers have not even considered removing them may be because of influence, an official of the establishment division told this correspondent.
Saleem Mandviwalla holds the portfolio of chairman of BOI. His status as state minister was withdrawn with the dissolution of National Assembly on March 16, 2013 but he is still enjoying perks and privileges as chairman BOI. An official of BOI revealed that former Finance Minister Saleem Mandviwalla met with the Caretaker Prime Minister and rendered his resignation but was asked to continue as Chairman BOI. Therefore he is still enjoying the same perks and privileges as a Minister for State, he added.
Abdur Rehman Khan Siddique, Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan, said it is unprecedented that a former parliamentarian is working as head of an organisation in the caretaker government. The sole responsibility of a lawmaker is legislation and he/she cannot hold executive power. The appointment of Chairperson BISP and Chairman BOI was illegal and against the constitution. He further said that due process was not followed in their appointments as they were not selected through any competition or advertisement.
A retired secretary of the Cabinet Division said a senator or Member National Assembly can oversee any project but can not wield executive powers. "The main responsibility of MNA or Senator is to legislate and they are not qualified for such posts," he maintained.
He termed holding the post of Chairman BISP and BOI by politicians a violation of the Constitution which does not allow a person to hold office of legislator and exercise executive authority at the same time.
He further said that BISP was a project and when PC-1 of the project was prepared by the Planning Division, it must have drafted terms of reference for the head of project. He added that such practice was not evident in India or UK where an MP holds executive authority.
Managing Director Bait-ul-Mal Zumurad Khan had filed his nomination papers to contest election from NA-54 (Rawalpindi) which is violation of rules as a person who holds an executive post in public service can not contest elections for two years, the retired Secretary Cabinet said. The caretakers have desisted from removing close associates of President Zardari, a former secretary ECP said.