A committee headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is set to conduct interviews for the position of President of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) this Saturday.
Shortlisted Candidates for NBP President Announced
According to sources, the Finance Division has compiled a list of candidates for the NBP President position. The shortlisted candidates include acting NBP President Rehmat Ali Hasnie, Adnan Alley Agha, Mudassar H. Khan, Tahir Yaqub Bhatti, Tariq Ghuman, Usman Shahid, and Javed Qureshi.
Acting NBP President Emerges as Favorite for the Position
While the acting NBP president was not initially shortlisted in the previous appointment process, sources indicate that he is now the frontrunner for the President/CEO position. This is due to his connections with allied parties of the coalition government.
Sources also reveal that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has raised audit objections against Hasnie, alleging that he attained the rank of SEVP through dishonest means. Furthermore, the acting president has been linked to the HASCOL scandal.
Additionally, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has directed NBP to provide details of 20 officers, including Hasnie, in an illegal appointments case. Hasnie has been fulfilling the duties of acting president since May 2022.
Adnan Alley Agha and Usman Shahid: Other Candidates in the Spotlight
Adnan Alley Agha, another candidate, previously held the position of SEVP & Group Chief/Chief Risk Officer, Risk Management Group, at NBP. The Auditor General of Pakistan has raised audit objections regarding his appointment, accusing NBP management of favoritism and non-compliance with required rules and policies.
Agha faces allegations of receiving dual salaries (one from NBP and another from a Manila-based organization). When an application was filed with the FIA on this matter, he left the country.
Usman Shahid, a former SEVP at NBP, has also been involved in the HASCOL scandal. He was briefly held in FIA custody and later released on bail. Currently serving as the Chief Risk Officer at Bank Islami, Shahid is considered a strong candidate by banking sector officials.
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