Caretaker Minister for Industries and Production, Shehzada Ahsan Ashraf Sheikh has said that chief executive officers and managing directors who are on his hit list are threatening him through "intelligence agencies". During an exclusive chat with Business Recorder, he said that summaries for removal of CEOs and MDs appointed on political grounds were ready and as the new Secretary Ministry of Industries took charge he would sign summaries and then those summaries would be approved by Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso.
In reply to a question, he said he had removed CEO Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), Khalid Mehmood and Vice Chairman Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA). Answering another question, he said that media should support him as "corrupt" CEOs had launched a malicious campaign against him. Citing an example, he said, a couple of days ago, an officer of an intelligence agency told him that the MD National Fertiliser Corporation Limited (NFML) who is on the Minister's hit list, had accused him of seeking Rs 30 million to allow him to retain his job.
"I am facing accusations by the corrupt mafia. I did not meet him prior to preparation of summary for his removal," he added. He maintained that when he suspended General Manager NFC Fakkhuruzzaman Ali Cheema, who was incharge of half a dozen departments, he moved the court. According to the Minister, he fought with the recently retired Secretary Industries Zafar Mehmood for not approving summaries for removal of heads of different organisations. Answering a question, he said CEO Engineering Development Board Qazi Ibad was also being removed, adding that he was an old man. Insiders claim that the Minister will get approval of these summaries after the Federal Cabinet meeting.