HC to Sri Lanka: Khattak's appointment attracts criticism

The Federal Cabinet has reportedly "objected" to the appointment of Major General Muhammad Saad Khattak (retired), a nominee of GHQ, as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, on the basis of his credentials, well informed sources told Business Recorder.

On September 30, 2019, Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed nine ambassadors - Munir Akram, Muhammad Aejaz, Syed Sajjad Haider, Khalil Ahmad Hashmi, Imran Ahmad Siddiqui, Ahsan K.K. Wagan, Major General Muhammad Saad Khattak (retd), Abdul Hamid and Abrar Hussain Hashmi with the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The sources said, the issue of appointment of General Khattak came under discussion at a meeting of Federal Cabinet on October 1, 2019 when some cabinet members raised objections on his appointment as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. It was stated that Khattak was earlier proposed to be appointed as Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB); however, his credentials were not considered strong enough for that appointment.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, explained that Khattak had been appointed against armed services quota, and the matter could be taken up with the quarters concerned.

After a detailed discussion, the Cabinet decided that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will review the matter of former army major general's appointment as High Commissioner and discuss the matter with the Prime Minister and proceed accordingly. Maj-Gen Khattak could not be reached for his comments. There is a fixed quota for appointments of retired officers of armed forces as ambassadors.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019