Friday, May 23, 2008
By Shakil Shaikh
ISLAMABAD: Two serving and three junior-ranked retired Army officers now form the core team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), belying the tall claims of giving accountability in the hands of civilians under the elected government.
Almost 10 days back, Rear Admiral Zakaullah was appointed Director-General, NAB Rawalpindi, though many say that the Gilani administration should have sent the personnel of the armed forces back.
The office of DG NAB, Peshawar, is also manned by a serving air vice marshal (AVM). Surprisingly, the government has also appointed some junior retired military officers to head its provincial offices in Lahore, Karachi and Balochistan.
Retired Maj Shuja was appointed DG NAB, Lahore. Col (retd) Khurshid was appointed the DG NAB, Sindh, four weeks back. Similarly, Brig (retd) Musaddiq has been given the charge of the office of DG NAB, Balochistan.
The Army chief had decided to de-induct military officers in civil departments, but the civilian administration has not yet evolved a clear-cut policy on sending back the personnel belonging to the armed forces.
"The appointment of retired junior military officers at NAB's regional offices would not bode well," said a senior official, who suggested that the government must adopt the policy of appointing senior civilian officials to deal with corruption and corrupt practices.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=114275