In order to ensure that the selected candidate is a person of known integrity as envisaged in section 3(6) of the Ordinance and as per past practice, clearance reports with reference to any pending inquiry against them, were ascertained from FIA, NAB and IDB and the employer (Mari Petroleum Company Limited), for the serving candidate.
The sources said, advertisement of February 10, 2019 has been challenged in a writ petition number 2330/2019 in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The court in its order of June 24, 2019 allowed that the process of appointment may be continued but it would be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition. Para-wise comments have been filed by the Cabinet Division in the court.
In the hearing of the case held on October 22, 2019, the court, in its order the same day, clarified that the order of June 24, 2019 shows that there is no injunction against the appointment of the Member (Gas) OGRA. Cabinet Division maintains that in the light of court's orders, the case can be considered by the Federal Cabinet.
Cabinet Division, requested the Federal Cabinet to approve the name of one of the candidates for appointment as Member (Gas), Ogra for a period of three years as per section 3(8) (b) of the Ogra Ordinance, 2002 at median of MP-1 scale along with perquisites.
After discussion the Cabinet approved the appointment of Muhammad Arif subject to final outcome of the court case in the matter.