ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has finally moved to appoint a new executive director at the World Bank in Washington, replacing former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s son-in-law Raja Azeemul Haq, who is still serving on the coveted post despite resigning two months ago.
Officials at the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) confirmed on Friday that a formal summary had been moved to the prime minister by EAD Secretary Nargis Sethi, accepting Haq’s resignation. Haq, who was already embroiled in a legal tussle, tendered his resignation after Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) was voted out of office in May.
In December last year, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had appointed Raja Azeemul Haq to the post using his discretionary powers. Before the controversial appointment to the WB, Haq was serving in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
A case against Haq’s appointment to the prestigious post of executive director (ED) of the World Bank was still pending in the Supreme Court, along with another case involving his out-of-turn promotion to grade 21, the second highest pay scale in the civil bureaucracy.
Haq was expected to return from Washington following his resignation but he chose to retain the post until his resignation was accepted. The officials said a summary has been sent to the PM seeking permission to formally initiate the process of appointing a new ED at the WB.
However, they ruled out the possibility of advertising the post. According to sources familiar with the development, the prime minister’s secretary Nasir Khosa, and former secretary finance Abdul Wajid Rana are said to be the ones most likely to secure the prestigious slot.
Internews
