sparklingway
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Before anybody lashes out at Zardari, as always, I'll like to mention that Magsi was appointed as Governor Balochistan by the then President Pervez Musharraf. The Federal Government was a caretaker one as well.
Because the EC has no way of checking police records and court convictions, it relies on people to file complaints against nominations.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
By Tariq Butt
ISLAMABAD: The validity of the appointment of Nawab Zulfikar Magsi as governor of Balochistan is in question as he was disqualified from holding any public office in 2000 under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) for 21 years, informed sources say.
Despite efforts spanning three days by The News, no one from the Governor’s House Quetta was available to speak on the issue to give a version on behalf of Nawab Magsi. Messages were dropped for Agha Taimur, Special Secretary to the governor, and public relations official Javed, but no one called back.
According to the NAB record, Magsi was detained by NAB Quetta in October 2000 under the NAB law and was released in December the same year after he opted for a plea bargain and deposited Rs50 million of the calculated loss caused to the national exchequer.
He was accused of misuse of official funds for the development of a personal farm at Nigore, misuse of government money by sending public office holders on Umra, diverting official funds for the renovation of his personal house in Quetta and other irregularities in the use of discretionary funds.
When Magsi entered into the plea bargain, the disqualificationperiod was 21 years. However, it was later cut down to 10 years through an amendment in the NAO. Even if the disqualification period is ten years, he was not eligible to hold public office.
Magsi was made Governor of Balochistan in February 2008 after he had contested and won a provincial assembly seat as an independent candidate from his native PB-32 Jhal Magsi constituency a few days ago. He had served as chief minister of Balochistan in 1993-96 during the second stint of Benazir Bhutto as prime minister. Besides, he had also served in different provincial ministries including the home ministry.
The original NAO said any accused person who has availed the benefit of section 25 (plea bargain) of this ordinance shall also be deemed to have been convicted for an offence under it and shall stand disqualified for 21 years.
The amended law said that he shall stand disqualified for a period of ten years, to be reckoned from the date he has discharged his liabilities relating to the matter or transaction in issue, for seeking or from being elected, chosen, appointed or nominated as a member or representative of any public body or any statutory local authority or in service of Pakistan or of any province.
Sources said before the 2002 general elections, the NAB forwarded a list of 105 people to the Election Commission of Pakistan (EC) giving the names of those, who were disqualified to contest elections because they struck plea bargain deals with the NAB, and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Maqsi’s name figured in it apart from 14 politicians, 50 businessmen, 40 bureaucrats and government servants. This disqualification existed when Magsi contested the 2008 elections or was made governor.
Because the EC has no way of checking police records and court convictions, it relies on people to file complaints against nominations.
Governor Magsi cannot hold office
Thursday, June 10, 2010
By Tariq Butt
ISLAMABAD: The validity of the appointment of Nawab Zulfikar Magsi as governor of Balochistan is in question as he was disqualified from holding any public office in 2000 under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) for 21 years, informed sources say.
Despite efforts spanning three days by The News, no one from the Governor’s House Quetta was available to speak on the issue to give a version on behalf of Nawab Magsi. Messages were dropped for Agha Taimur, Special Secretary to the governor, and public relations official Javed, but no one called back.
According to the NAB record, Magsi was detained by NAB Quetta in October 2000 under the NAB law and was released in December the same year after he opted for a plea bargain and deposited Rs50 million of the calculated loss caused to the national exchequer.
He was accused of misuse of official funds for the development of a personal farm at Nigore, misuse of government money by sending public office holders on Umra, diverting official funds for the renovation of his personal house in Quetta and other irregularities in the use of discretionary funds.
When Magsi entered into the plea bargain, the disqualificationperiod was 21 years. However, it was later cut down to 10 years through an amendment in the NAO. Even if the disqualification period is ten years, he was not eligible to hold public office.
Magsi was made Governor of Balochistan in February 2008 after he had contested and won a provincial assembly seat as an independent candidate from his native PB-32 Jhal Magsi constituency a few days ago. He had served as chief minister of Balochistan in 1993-96 during the second stint of Benazir Bhutto as prime minister. Besides, he had also served in different provincial ministries including the home ministry.
The original NAO said any accused person who has availed the benefit of section 25 (plea bargain) of this ordinance shall also be deemed to have been convicted for an offence under it and shall stand disqualified for 21 years.
The amended law said that he shall stand disqualified for a period of ten years, to be reckoned from the date he has discharged his liabilities relating to the matter or transaction in issue, for seeking or from being elected, chosen, appointed or nominated as a member or representative of any public body or any statutory local authority or in service of Pakistan or of any province.
Sources said before the 2002 general elections, the NAB forwarded a list of 105 people to the Election Commission of Pakistan (EC) giving the names of those, who were disqualified to contest elections because they struck plea bargain deals with the NAB, and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Maqsi’s name figured in it apart from 14 politicians, 50 businessmen, 40 bureaucrats and government servants. This disqualification existed when Magsi contested the 2008 elections or was made governor.
