Irritated with continuous complaints, Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan has reportedly grilled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), Capt M Jamil Akhter Khan (retired) last week for misstatement of facts and not following directives of the ministry, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
The Ministry of Commerce is evaluating whether the performance of incumbent CEO is in accordance with the parameters set by the Prime Minister and what Jamil has introduced in the organisation.
The sources said the incumbent CEO has a number of personal issues and ministry had received a number of complaints, including sexual harassment, against him. One general manager of NICL based in Islamabad was also allegedly involved in a sexual harassment case, the sources added.
Commerce Ministry claims that the CEO who was selected by the NICL Board has created a number of problems for it (ministry). He has made appointments without taking the ministry on board and in violation of criteria of Establishment Division.
The sources said, the commerce minister had summoned the CEO in his office at the Commerce Ministry and roared at him in a loud voice which was heard in the corridors of the ministry. The minister allowed Additional Secretary (Policy & Administration) Dr Aamir Ahmed to witness the grilling episode.
"You are facing sexual harassment case, misappropriation cases, irregularities in appointments and non-compliance of the ministry's directions," the sources quoted the commerce minister as saying.
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan had also confirmed recently that NICL is not actively pursuing scam cases in courts which involve substantial amounts.
Insiders claim that CEO in his meeting request had stated that he wanted to discuss some administrative issues with the minister.
"CEO is facing a lot of issues. NAB and FIA are investigating him. Recently, SECP has constituted a committee to probe NICL's fake claims," the insiders added.
When contacted, the CEO NICL said that meeting with the commerce minister was held on his request aimed at exchange of views and to update the latter on progress.
He denied that any charge-sheet was read out by Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan.
"Neither was so-called 'charge-sheet' read out or discussed, nor there exits any such charge-sheet," he added.
As regards charges of sexual harassment, he said no such case or allegation has been ever lodged against him.
"There has been such an allegation against one of NICL GMs and that has already been probed into. Even the ministry had duly investigated the same and it was found to be a baseless allegation. The complainant then obtained temporary injunction/stay from National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) to escape disciplinary action against her," he added.
Furthermore, all appointments have been made on merit, with full involvement of the board and with full transparency. The advertisement was placed with the ministry's approval, he said.
As regards slow progress on land scam, the CEO NICL claimed that the cases are being handled by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), adding that NICL management has duly lodged FIRs and is pursuing all court cases vigorously.