Nawaz Sharif Punished, Lawai Removed But NBP President Still Surviving

KARACHI: The Accountability Court in Islamabad has awarded sentence to Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Safdar while Hussain Lawai had also been removed from the chairmanship of the Pakistan Stock Exchange after his arrest in 35 billion rupees money laundering case, but the National Bank President, who had been indicted in money laundering case of Ishaq Dar, is still surviving that is stunning for the people of Pakistan.

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The Security and Exchanges Commission of Pakistan has removed immediately Hussain Lawai from the post of Chairmanship of Pakistan Stock Exchange soon after his arrest in 35 billion rupees money laundering case, but NBP President still seems 'untouchable'. The NBP President is appearing before the Supreme Court in his review petition in which he has urged the court to acquit him from the abettment charges levelled against him in Ishaq Dar case.

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For the past many months, Saeed Ahmed is appearing in accountability court and supreme court, but neither he had been removed from the National Bank nor arrested in the abettment case as he has filed a review petition in the apex court to prolong his case and to enjoy his life’s best job as President of the NBP.

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Legal experts believe that like Hussain Lawai, Saeed Ahmed should be sacked immediately, otherwise, he could influence his case and prolong it further that was against the national interest.

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They said that a senior most banker from the National Bank of Pakistan should be given the top slot of the bank after termination of the sitting President of the NBP Saeed Ahmed.

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Sources in National Bank are claiming that NBP President is obliging the pro-Sharifs and Ishaq Dar people working in the bank and has given them promotions and extension by influencing the board of the bank.

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Worth noting is that the Federal government has withheld the decision of removing National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) President Saeed Ahmed, a close aide of former finance minister Ishaq Dar from his post.

Sources said that the finance ministry had presented a summary for the suspension of Saeed Ahmed to the federal cabinet, but the government is expected to appoint new president of NBP any time.

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NBP President Saeed Ahmed must be suspended as early as possible from service in terms of the general clauses act because the federal government had appointed him on this position. This proviso of general clause act was invoked in the case of Zafarul Haq Hejazi, SECP ex-chairman, as the law division had advised that an accused, in criminal law, was presumed innocent till proven guilty, and he may therefore not resign.

It is pertinent to note that Saeed Ahmed is a co-accused in an illegal assets reference case against former finance minister Ishaq Dar who had already been declared a proclaimed offender. The court had reserved the verdict till July 7, 2018, over Saeed Ahmed’s acquittal from the case.

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Sources said the finance ministry had presented two names i.e. Faisal Ahmed Topra and Rehmat Ali Hasnie, for the provisional charge of NBP president in the cabinet meeting for a stop-gap arrangement and NBP board members had vigorously lobbied for Faisal Ahmed Topra even though the finance minister was not happy with it. Whereas, the senior most banker of the National Bank should be considered for the top slot to promote professionalism and competency in the bank.

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According to sources, the federal government is sidelining close aides of the previous government, especially the proclaimed offender former finance minister, in a bid to maintain transparency in the polls.

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Amid the transfers ahead of general elections, the government transferred FBR Chairman Tariq Pasha and the caretaker government was now considering the pre-mature removal of the Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Tariq Bajwa, appointed by Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s first proclaimed offender ex-finance minister, sitting in London while  the federal ombudsperson and Auditor General of Pakistan are also being replaced with competent, neutral and professionals. (for News send to <editor@enewspaper.com.pk>  WhatsApp # +923132434567)