PHC begins process to select DG, other officials

KP Ehtesab Commission

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has assumed the powers conferred by the provincial government for selection of Director General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission as well as its Prosecutor General and Director Internal Monitoring and Public Complaints Wing.

The PHC was also given authority to recommend action against these officers if found involved in corruption and corrupt practices.

A PHC official told The News that the high court selection committee comprising judges of the high court and advocate general had started the process for selection of the senior officials under the law.

Recently, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government empowered the PHC to select the Director General KP Ehtesab Commission, Prosecutor General and Director Internal Monitoring and their removal from service in case of any complaints against them with regard to misuse of authority.

The government took the decision after facing severe criticism that it was appointing its favourites on key posts despite being ineligible for the prized job.

Due to the criticism, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and PTI chief Imran Khan decided to hand over powers of appointment on the key posts, including Director General Ehtesab Commission, to the PHC. An amendment will be made in the KP Ehtesab Act after passage from the provincial assembly. It will be called KP Ehtesab Commission (Second Amendment) Act 2017.

Under the act, the selection committee shall also inquire into allegations of abuse of authority or misconduct by the Ehtesab Commission’s director general, commissioners, prosecutor general and director Internal Monitoring and Public Complaints Wing and after giving an opportunity to be heard in person, it may recommend to the government or the Ehtesab Commission, as the case may be, their removal, if found guilty.

The high court was also empowered to oversee the overall performance of the Ehtesab Commission’s director general and its officers and employees without interference in its day-to-day operational matters.

The provincial high court was also empowered to inquire into allegations of corruption and corrupt practices within the Directorate General or any officer or employee of the Directorate General and recommend action to the competent authority in accordance with the rules and regulations.

Under the Act, a selection committee consisting of judges of Administrative Committee of the Peshawar High Court and Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shall be constituted for recommending suitable persons for the abovementioned posts by inviting applications from the general public through an advertisement.

It was stated that the procedure of selection shall be completed within a period of 120 days after a position falls vacant. The procedure for selection will start within a period of seven days from the date when the position falls vacant.