KARACHI: Transfer and postings of government employees were prerogatives of higher authorities by elected government officials but nowadays a new trend has been developed to challenge people's right to chosen representatives. Latest interesting incident of refusal of Prime Minister's order by Chairman PNSC has been highlighted in media.    

 According to details, Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MOMA) issued a notification August 5, 2022 on behalf of Prime Minister for appointment of four new directors on Board of Directors of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC). They were Rear Admiral Jawad Ahmed (Pakistan Navy) as Director of PNSC in place of Rizwan Ahmed, Chairman/Director BOD for remaining period of outgoing Director i.e., up to December 3, 2023. Other three ex-officio Directors were Additional Secretary (Corporate Finance), Finance Division, Islamabad, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Islamabad and Director General (Ports and Shipping) MOMA, Karachi.     

According to informed sources, incumbent Director and Chairman PNSC Rizwan Ahmed not only refused to hand over charge to Rear Admiral Jawad Ahmed but disclosed that he had already challenged it in advance on August 2, 2022 in court of law. He claimed that he had obtained a stay order from Sindh High Court that was not shown to newly appointed Chairman on his demand on August 5, 2022.

Sources revealed that soon after knowing this situation Cabinet Secretariat, Establishment Division Islamabad, issued a notification dated August 5, 2022, that Prime Minister has been pleased to nominate Rear Admiral Jawad Ahmed, ex-officio Director on BoDs of PNSC, as Chairman, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation under Ministry of Maritime Affairs for remaining period of ongoing Chairman up to December 3, 2023 in terms of Section 18(1) of PNSC Ordinance, 1979 as amended vide PNSC (Amendment) Act, 2021. Appointment would be subject to final outcome of Constitutional Petition No.D-4567 of 2022 in High Court of Sindh, notification added.    On other hand, Court record shows that Rizwan Ahmed Shaikh had filed his petition on August 2, 2022, against Federation of Pakistan for a stay that was pending while Court had fixed date of hearing on August 11, 2022 before division bench of Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar and Justice Agha Faisal.   

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 08 2022

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