The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned former communications minister Asad Mahmood over alleged irregularities in Pakistan Post recruitment during his tenure in 2022 and 2023.
NAB has directed Mahmood, son of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, to appear before its investigation team on November 10 at 11am to answer questions about the appointments.
According to the NAB notice, the Establishment Division had approved recruitment against 3,938 vacancies in the Pakistan Post Office. However, officials allegedly recruited 4,252 people, exceeding the approved number.
The bureau has also raised questions over appointments against 2,646 abolished vacancies, reportedly in violation of the cabinet committee’s instructions.
Another concern involves permanent appointments despite recommendations to hire candidates on a contractual basis through a testing agency.
The allegations also include the use of fake documents, recruitment of overage candidates and violations of the prescribed domicile quota.
Mahmood served as federal minister for communications in the coalition government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which took power after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government lost a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
NAB has warned that failure to comply with the summons could lead to legal proceedings under Section 31 of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.
Separately, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also summoned Mahmood in connection with alleged irregularities in Pakistan Post recruitment.
The FIA’s anti-corruption circle in Islamabad had directed him to appear on November 2 at 11am to record his statement.
Both investigations concern alleged corruption and violations in recruitment at the Pakistan Post Office during Mahmood’s tenure as communications minister.
