Fazlur Rehman’s son skips NAB summons

Islamabad: Despite a summons from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Asad Mehmood, son of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, missed his scheduled appearance on Monday at the anti-graft agency regarding irregularities in appointments at Pakistan Post. The bureau has not disclosed its subsequent steps, typically issuing additional notices before resorting to punitive measures such as arrest.

Mehmood was instructed to meet with the investigation team at 11 am on November 10 to address allegations of irregularities in 4,252 appointments made during his time as a federal minister in 2022-23. A senior NAB official, upon request for information, refrained from disclosing the bureau's future actions, citing the new laws that prevent media from accessing investigation details until a court rules on the case.

According to the notice, while the Establishment Division approved recruitment for 3,938 posts at Pakistan Post, 4,252 individuals were appointed, exceeding the authorized quota. Of these, 2,646 positions were allegedly filled by candidates for abolished roles, contravening a cabinet committee's directives. The bureau is also investigating claims of permanent appointments made despite recommendations for contractual employment, which would increase financial obligations for Pakistan Post.

Additionally, allegations of political connections among selected candidates, use of forged documents, recruitment of over-age individuals, and violations of the domicile quota are under scrutiny by the NAB.