`Pressure from the powerful`: PBM ameen quits over appointments to dist bodies

LAHORE, April 30: Continuous pressure allegedly exerted by 'influential members' of Punjab Bait-ul-Maal Council (PBMC) and the Chief Minister's Secretariat for getting their 'favourites' appointed as heads of district bait-ul-maal committees (DBMCs) forced the provincial Ameen to finally resign from the post. Dawn has learnt that Punjab Bait-ul-Maal (PBM) Ameen Justice Mian Nazir Akhtar (retired) met Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on April 27 and tendered his resignation after expressing his concern over about two-and-a-half year delay in formation of DBMCs and finalising nominations to these bodies. The inordinate delay in formation of these bodies has reportedly hampered the distribution of Rs400 million among the needy in the province. Sources said Mr Akhtar was not happy with the PBMC members and some 'elements' in the CM's Secretariat, who were allegedly pressing him for accepting the nominations they had already finalised for the DBMC top slots. "The Ameen was of the view that the CM's Secretariat didn't finalise nominations for the DBMCs on merit, as most of the nominated persons, according to him, were either illiterate or not enjoying good reputation in their areas. That is why the Ameen rejected the nominations and conveyed his stance to the quarters concerned prior to filing his resignation in this regard," said an official requesting anonymity. He said the PBMC members and CM's Secretariat after trying hard for getting their 'favourites' appointed as DBMCs' chairpersons and facing a big 'NO' from Ameen, finally got them adjusted as chairpersons of the District Zakat Committees (DZCs). "They succeeded in getting their desired persons appointed as chairpersons of DZCs in as many as 29 districts of the province. In this regard the Zakat & Ushar department's secretary formally issued a notification a few days back," the official said. The official said because of delay in the formation of new DBMCs, the PBM couldn't provide financial assistance to the tune of Rs400 million to the deserving people across the province since completion of three-year tenure of the old ones on October 25, 2008. "The sitting government failed to timely nominate people of good repute to head DBMCs due to lack of consultation with the provincial assembly members belonging to the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and PML-Q in various constituencies of the province," he added. He said after resignation of PBM Ameen the PBMC had decided to hold a meeting on May 4 to approve nominations for chairperson slots and formation of new DBMCs. He said the government had given the charge of PBM Ameen office to social welfare and women development secretary for an early formation of new committees. "For varied reasons including the present deadlock over appointment of chairmen of DBMCs, formation of DBMCs and a few personal reasons, I no longer wish to continue as Ameen, Punjab Bait-ul-Maal. I, therefore tender my resignation which may kindly be accepted and I be relieved of my responsibilities with immediate effect," Justice Akhtar (retired) quoted from his resignation when Dawn contacted him for his comments. He said as the matter relating to committees' formation and appointment of chairpersons was lying pending since May 2008, he finalised a list of 'honest' people qualifying to head the DBMCs. "But the PBMC members, including four provincial secretaries, seven PML-N men and three PPP representatives, did not agree to the nominations as they wanted to get their desired people appointed as DBMC heads. Upon my refusal, they said they will get their men appointed as heads of these bodies after getting orders from top government authorities. It was the time when the differences started developing between me and the PBMC members," he explained. He said that he was of the view that the new chairpersons of the DBMCs must hold BA or LLB degree, or at least an FA certificate, besides enjoying a good reputation in their areas. "How could I accept nominations of those who don't enjoy a good reputation and or have lower educational qualification, such as middle or metric," Mr Akhtar said. He said as per rules there was no room for illiterates or persons of bad repute as heads of such important committees which were meant for a fair distribution of funds among the poor and the needy. He said that he had earlier resigned on May 10, 2010 because of the deadlock over DBMCs' formation, but the chief minister refused to accept his resignation, asking him to continue as PBM Ameen. "This time too the chief minister asked me to continue but I requested him to relieve me of the charge," the retired judge said. Commenting on the issue, Punjab government spokesman Pervaiz Rashid said, "He (Mr Akhtar) didn't express his reservations on the issue of DBMCs. Mr Akhtar just told us that he had resigned (from the post) due to his personal reasons," he added.