- Replacing a career diplomat with a novice
Making well-thought out, deserving appointments on merit in pivotal posts has not been the forte of the PML-N government. Charges of cronyism, nepotism or shared business interests have been raised regarding countless selections, but without hastening any change of mindset, and in official appointments, even mandatory job qualifications are amended to facilitate favourites. The foremost criteria, whether of highly insecure or ‘heavy mandate’ rulers has always been personal loyalty, a desire to surround or seclude themselves with a clique of crouching, fawning and servile yes-men, for whom the benefactor’s every wish, right or wrong, is in the nature of a command. The current bankruptcy (financial, ethical and moral) in government ministries, the bureaucracy and in public sector organisationsis a natural corollary to the ‘square pegs in round holes’ appointment policy.
The news storm over the still unofficial nomination of Ali Jahangir Siddiqui, scion of a leading brokerage and investment banking firm, and special assistant to the prime minister, to the crucial post of ambassador to the US, illustrates the ‘undeserver’ argument well. The only saving graces in this instance are that he is highly educated, has displayed leadership qualities, and is being posted to a country whose president is also a real-estate tycoon, albeit with little or no perception of any conflict of interest where Trump Towers are concerned. The collusive ‘old boy network’ suspicions arise in these areas: with zero diplomatic experience he replaces a career diplomat with 36 years’ service at a time of strained US-Pak relations, his longstanding status as banker to an airline said to be connected to the incumbent prime minister’s family, and his former position as a director on the Board of that very airline.
A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court on Friday, while PPP and PTI too have condemned it as the ‘worst kind of nepotism’ and expressed ‘amazement at the arbitrary and sudden move at such a sensitive time’. With national elections due in a few months, the choice, if at all, could certainly have been less controversial and provocative, apart from possibly embarrassing the host country.
Well written but let us face it the rot lies in the Foreign Office. It is in conflict with in itself. Recently a highly distinguished diplomat RESIGNED after nearly 30 years as an ambassdor over an controversial appointmet. ?know the name.The appoinment as an ambassdor is always as an prestigious post esp to US.It may not always og to a career diplomats and some distinguished non politicians and politicians have been appointed as like Miss Malleha Lodhi and Sherry Rehaman Both of them esp.the first one performed exceptionally well. At the moment we need a safe pair of hands in Washington esp when we have an inexperinecd Foreign minister. The New appointee may be an astute business man. but my mind boggles over the reasons behind his appointment. More resignations over the horizon.? The day one goes through the eye of a needle to be selected as an aspiring diplomat the ambition is to look towards the ultimate—US or London but sadly in Pakistan some one else steps in!
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