Muhammad Asad
Islamabad: Islamabad: The interim government sacked heads of four state-run organisations, de-notifying the contracts of some high-profile “political appointees”. The Dispatch News Network (DND) reports.
Those whose contracts have been fired included Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Shahjehan Khatran, brother of PPP leader Mirbaz Khan Khatran, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Director General (DG) Murtaza Solangi, a close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, State Life Corporation of Pakistan Chairman Shahid Aziz Siddiqi and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Nadeemul Haq.
It is not out of place to mention here that despite being the head of a federal government organization, Mir Shahjahan Khetran contested as independent candidate for the Balochistan provincial assembly seat (PB 17, Barkhan). He secured 5,730 votes being on the third position. His wife, Shazia Shahjahan Khetran was also an independent candidate from the same constituency.
Earlier the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) had received an application against Mir Shahjahan Khetran, stating that in spite of being the head of a government organisation, Mr Khetran has filed his nomination papers to contest election from that constituency. The complainants have accused Mr Khetran of using government vehicles and other resources for his election campaign. The application was filed by Majid Yaqub, Ramzan Mirza, Qamar Zaman and Nadeem Bukhari.
One of the complainants, Mr Mirza, referred to rules which bar a person serving in a government department from contesting election. “Mr Khetran visits his office regularly and has been handling all functions of the department,” he added. Another complainant, Mr Yaqub, said if Mr Khetran was allowed to contest election, he would be able to use his position for influencing results. He alleged that Mr Khetran was appointed as managing director of PTDC in 2011 on political grounds.
However, despite the said complaint, Mir Shahjahan Khetran’s nomination papers were not rejected by ECP. Khurshid Alam, the deputy director of ECP’s public relations, said sometimes candidates succeeded in filing nomination papers without mentioning their occupations but their papers were rejected after scrutiny.
