The appointment of Muhammad Arif, as Member Gas, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has been linked to the outcome of litigation in Islamabad High Court (IHC), sources in Ogra told Business Recorder.
The post of the Member (Gas) fell vacant on December 22, 2016 on completion of tenure of former member. It has been advertised four times since. The last time it was advertised on February 10, 2019, offering median of MP-1 scale. In response, 22 candidates applied for the position within stipulated time. The Selection Committee, constituted in pursuance Establishment Davison's OM No.1/29/2018-E-6 of March 28, 2019, considered the 22 applications and short listed 12 candidates in its meeting held on June 23, 2019. The selection committee interviewed the twelve short listed candidates on July 12, 2019 and recommended the following three candidates, in order of merit for appointment of one of them as Member (Gas), OGRA: (i) Muhammad Arif, Syed, (ii) Mehmood Jeelani, and (iii) Javed Iqbal Jadoon.
In order to ensure that the selected candidate is a person of known integrity as envisaged in section 3(6) of the Ordinance and as per past practice, clearance reports with reference to any pending inquiry against them, were ascertained from FIA, NAB and IDB and the employer (Mari Petroleum Company Limited), for the serving candidate.
The sources said, advertisement of February 10, 2019 has been challenged in a writ petition number 2330/2019 in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The court in its order of June 24, 2019 allowed that the process of appointment may be continued but it would be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition. Para-wise comments have been filed by the Cabinet Division in the court.
In the hearing of the case held on October 22, 2019, the court, in its order the same day, clarified that the order of June 24, 2019 shows that there is no injunction against the appointment of the Member (Gas) OGRA. Cabinet Division maintains that in the light of court's orders, the case can be considered by the Federal Cabinet.
Cabinet Division, requested the Federal Cabinet to approve the name of one of the candidates for appointment as Member (Gas), Ogra for a period of three years as per section 3(8) (b) of the Ogra Ordinance, 2002 at median of MP-1 scale along with perquisites.
After discussion the Cabinet approved the appointment of Muhammad Arif subject to final outcome of the court case in the matter.
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