Dr Hafeez Shaikh Must Remove President NBP Usmani

KARACHI: Newly-appointed Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Hafeez Shaikh must terminate President of National Bank of Pakistan Arif Usmani who had been appointed in violation of merit. [caption id="attachment_30803" align="aligncenter" width="800"] enewspaper.com.pk/NBP[/caption] Sources said that Arif Usmani had been appointed on the “Sifarish” of Munir Kamal, Chairman Pakistan Stock Exchange and elder brother of Assad Umer, former Finance Minister. According to sources, the Ministry of Finance deliberately did not invite Tariq Jamali, acting President of NBP, for interview for the selection of the regular President of NBP. Jamali was also candidate for the position of the top post of the bank.

Refer to previous news New NBP President’s meeting with Saeed Ahmed & corporate blackmailer shock NBP officials

[caption id="attachment_30804" align="alignleft" width="334"] enewspaper.com.pk/NBP[/caption] According to sources, Jamali was appointed acting President of National Bank of Pakistan when the PTI government removed Saeed Ahmed from the post of the NBP President as Saeed was involved in the assets beyond means case of proclaimed offender ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar. [caption id="attachment_30805" align="aligncenter" width="780"] enewspaper.com.pk/NBP[/caption] Sources said that Tariq Jamali was running the bank smoothly as acting President and he was also candidate for the post of President on regular basis. However, the government did not invite Jamali for interview for the top slot of the bank and instead appointed Arif Usmani in violation of merit as he was recommended by a very powerful person. [caption id="attachment_30806" align="aligncenter" width="696"] enewspaper.com.pk/NBP[/caption] Banking sources have claimed that the appointment of Usmani as NBP President is also being challenged in the Islamabad High Court soon to ensure that the court upholds the merit and also determines why the Ministry of Finance did not call for interview competent bankers like Tariq Jamali. [caption id="attachment_30807" align="aligncenter" width="800"] enewspaper.com.pk/NBP[/caption] Meanwhile, it was further learnt that soon after his appointment, Arif Usmani has suspended the powers of the group chiefs and other senior officials and practically has slowed down the functioning of the bank that was in sharp contrast to the PTI government’s policy of pacing up efforts to promote business and economy. In other words, NBP President Usmani was going against the government’s policy and creating hurdles for other senior officials of the bank to perform their duty as per requirement of their responsibilities. Thus, the NBP President Usmani has discouraged the senior and experienced NBP officials who were actively working for the development of the bank and economy as well. [caption id="attachment_30808" align="aligncenter" width="800"] enewspaper.com.pk/NBP[/caption] Another important issues is that the NBP has advertised important posts lying vacant in the bank and sources are of the opinion that the incumbent President further discourage the sitting experienced bankers by hiring the outsiders with the aim to build his own team and sideline the most experienced officials of the NBP. Some officials of the NBP and important shareholders are planning to send letters to the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Dr Hafeez Shaikh to pin-point appointment of Usmani in violation of merit, his decision of suspending powers of the senior NBP officials and hiring of the outsiders that would further undermine the interests of the bank. (for news please contact by email: editor@enewspaper.com.pk   WhatsApp # +923132434567)