ISLAMABAD: The secretary Cabinet Division has directed the Chairman National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to conduct an internal inquiry regarding the recommendation for nomination of Anwar Malik, Director General (Monitoring & Enforcement), NEPRA for Presidential Pride of Performance Award.
According to sources, the Secretary Cabinet Division through a letter dated September 12, 2022, directed the NEPRA chairman to conduct an internal inquiry regarding the recommendation for nomination of Anwar Malik, Director General (M&E), NEPRA for the Presidential Pride of Performance Award. And, also directed to ensure compliance with the Rules of Business, 1973, NEPRA Act, NEPRA Service Regulations and “Procedure for recommendations relating to Pakistan Civil Awards” and to remain vigilant in future.
Sources said that a Fact-Finding Inquiry was earlier conducted regarding the recommendation for nomination of Anwar Malik, Director General (Monitoring & Enforcement), NEPRA for the Presidential Pride of Performance Award on the directions of the competent authority (Secretary Cabinet). And, Secretary Cabinet, after receiving the findings of this inquiry, has directed the NEPRA chairman for further necessary action, they added.
Sharing details of the findings of Fact-Finding Inquiry, the sources said the nomination was forwarded under the signature of Rafique Ahmad Shaikh, Member (M&E), NEPRA who had no authority to do the same. Another interesting aspect of the matter is that Rafique Ahmad Shaikh, Member (M&E), has forwarded the nomination as Vice Chairman (VC), NEPRA, however, no such position exists in NEPRA as per NEPRA Act,1997 (amended in December, 2021). It is quite evident that Rafique Ahmad Shaikh has transgressed his authority as per the provision of NEPRA Act, 1997 and NEPRA Service Regulations, 2002. This is tantamount to violation of the prescribed procedure/process as per law. It is also unbecoming of an officer to implement as someone that he actually is not, said sources.
As per sources, it is also evident from the above that the sore beneficiary of this episode was Anwar Malik himself. Citation, recommendations and accompanying documents include personal information that could not have been provided to Member (M&E) by any source other than Malik himself, sources added.
Quoting findings of the Fact-Finding Inquiry, sources also said that during the probe, Joint Secretary (Awards) revealed that a similar nomination of Anwar Malik was also received in the cabinet division in the year 2020, which was processed at the Cabinet Division but the nomination was not approved by the sub-committee for grant of Award. This shows that it was not a one-off incident and even in the past, such violation of due process has taken place for the same officer. NEPRA may be directed to look into this and take necessary action against the officers/officials involved, sources added.
After going through the record, and interviewing the concerned officers and officials, I am of the considered opinion that at the very initial stage, the case was mishandled by the NEPRA office since approval of the competent authority i-e Chairman NEPRA and NEPRA Authority was not obtained before sending the case to the Cabinet Division, as required under NEPRA Act, 1997 and NEPRA Service Regulations, 2003, said sources quoting findings, adding,” Again, NEPRA authority was required to send the case to the Cabinet Secretary’s office for the seeking his endorsement but it was not done. The Cabinet Division may direct NEPRA Authority to look into this and fix responsibility for taking punitive action for infractions”.
