The Ministry of Information Technology reinitiated a forensic audit of the tenure of former Universal Services Fund CEO Riaz Asher Siddiqui, whose appointment had also been questioned by the Auditor General of Pakistan. Former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had appointed Siddiqui as the CEO of Universal Services Fund of the telecom industry, without fulfilling regulatory and legal requirements. According to sources, Siddiqui was such an influential CEO that he had succeeded in impeding previous orders of the ministry for a forensic audit of the Fund’s operations’ major investments.
Audit-para no 49 titled ‘Non observance of procedure for appointment of CEO of USF,’ stated that, ‘It was observed from Siddiqui’s personal file that the chairman of the USF Board of Directors had approved his appointment as CEO. There was a gap in the process as the required selection committee had not been constituted and no recommendation of penal, as quoted in the order sheet, was proposed by the Committee. As per para 3 of the appointment letter, the following was ordered by the principal secretary of the prime minister’.
The audit para further stated, “It was noted that new CEO took the charge on 16-12-2011 whereas the order of appointment were issued by the Company Secretary on 28-12-2011 unauthorized(ly). The terms and conditions laid down in the appointment letter were not approved from the appointing authority as required in para 3 of the appointment letter. The appointment letter showed salary of Rs 1 million rupees per month, with 3000 cc Toyota, Prado, Land Cruiser, 500 liters petrol and other perks and privileges. Thus the conditions prescribed in USF letter issued by Company Secretary were total (in) disregard of Company Policy as well Prime Minister Secretariat orders.”
The office of the Auditor General of Pakistan recommended action so that the matter could be investigated by the Principle Accounting Officer as well the Board for fact-finding and fixation of responsibility for non-observance of procedures for the appointment.
