The federal cabinet is likely to approve appointment of Shaista Bano Gilani and Bushra Naz Malik as Members of Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on the recommendations of Finance Division, well informed sources in Finance Ministry told Business Recorder.
CCP, which has not delivered in the past for allegedly making senior appointments based on nepotism and not merit was also facing shortage of Members for some time. CCP's Chairperson retains her post still after getting a stay order from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against her dismissal from service by the federal cabinet.
In terms of section 14 and 17 of the Competition Act, 2010 read with Rule 3 of the Competition Commission (salary, terms and conditions of Chairman and Members) Rule, 2009, the Members of CCP are appointed by the federal government for a term of three years. However, no person can be recommended as a Member unless the concerned person possesses a postgraduate degree in the relevant field from a recognized institution and is known for his integrity, expertise, eminence and experience for not less than ten years in any relevant field including industry, commerce, economics, finance, law, accountancy or public administration.
The two positions of the Member CCP were advertised in the national newspapers on December 16, 2018. In response to the advertisement applicants were scrutinized by a committee comprising former Secretary Finance, Arif Ahmad Khan, Additional Secretary Finance, (IF/INV) Sohail Rajput, Additional Secretary Establishment Division, Capt Nasim Nawaz(retired), Additional Finance Secretary (EF), Kamran Ali Afzal and Additional Finance Secretary(HR/CF), Ahmed Mujtaba Memon in its meeting held on February 1, 2019.
After assessment of the CVs and credentials of all the candidates on the basis of their educational and professional qualifications, quality, relevance, diversity and eminence of their experience, the committee finalised the list for consideration of the Selection Committee.
According to sources, a meeting of the Selection Committee comprising of Finance Minister, Asad Umar, Advisor to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity, Dr Ishrat Hussain, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, Secretary Establishment, Dr Ijaz Munir and Special Secretary Finance, Omar Hameed Khan was convened on February 19, 2019 to conduct interviews of the eight short-listed candidates.
The Selection Committee interviewed the candidates both in person and through video link and assessed them on the basis of their professional knowledge, expertise, leadership qualities and communication skills required for the position of Member CCP.
The Selection Committee unanimously recommended the following panel of six persons, in the order of merit, for appointment against two posts of the Member CCP ;(i) Shaista Bano Gilani;(ii) Bushra Naz Malik;(iii) Muhammad Bilal;(iv) Wasif Ijlal;(v) Muhammad Amir and ;(vi) Muhammad Arif.
The sources said, Finance Division has proposed that Shaista Bano Gilani and Bushra Naz Malik may be appointed as Members CCP with immediate effect for a period of three years under Section 14 and 17 of the Competition Act, 2010 read with Rule 3 of the Competition Commission ( Salary, Terms and Conditions of Chairman and Members) Rules, 2009.