ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s son and former federal minister Maulana Asad Mehmood in connection with an inquiry regarding alleged illegal recruitments in the Pakistan Post Office Department (PPOD) during his tenure as the Minister for Communications and Postal Services in 2022 and 2023.
According to a notice issued by the anti-graft body, the NAB (Islamabad/Rawalpindi bureau) is conducting the subject inquiry under the provisions of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 (NAO 1999) into allegations of illegal recruitments in the PPOD during his tenure as Minister for Communications and Postal Services in 2022 and 2023.
The allegations state that while the Establishment Division allowed the PPOD to fill 3,938 posts, recruitments were actually made against 4,252 positions. Furthermore, appointments were allegedly made against 2,646 abolished posts in direct violation of instructions from the cabinet committee.
The notice adds that although the Director General (DG) of the PPOD had recommended contractual recruitment through a testing agency, a large number of appointments were instead made regularly without any rationale. According to the bureau, this placed an extra financial burden on the PPOD, with the selected candidates reportedly having political affiliations.
According to the summons issued to Mehmood, the allegations include recruitment made using fake or forged documents, the hiring of overage candidates, and violations of the domicile quota. In light of these allegations, Mehmood has been requested to appear in person before the Combined Investigation Team (CIT) of NAB Rawalpindi at the Civic Centre, G-6, Islamabad.
The bureau has asked the former minister to appear before it on November 10 at 11:00 AM to record his statement regarding the aforementioned claims. The notice makes it clear that non-compliance will attract penal consequences under Section 31 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999.
Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) anti-corruption circle also summoned Maulana Asad Mehmood to appear before it for recording his statement in the connection with inquiry with respect to alleged serious illegalities and malpractices in the hiring and recruitments in PPOD.
According to the notice issued by FIA, the agency is conducting an inquiry under the FIA Act 1974 read with Chapter XIV of Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C) 1898 and whereas, it appears that you are well acquainted with the facts to be revealed/provided by you for finalization of the subject matter.
You [Mehmood] are required to appear before the investigation team on November 2 at 11: 00 am alongwith all relevant documents/evidence in support, and to record your version/statement.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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