Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned former federal minister and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Asad Mahmood over alleged irregularities in recruitment at the Pakistan Post Office during his tenure as communications minister in 2022 and 2023.
According to the anti-corruption watchdog, Mahmood has been directed to appear before its investigation team on November 10 at 11am to answer questions about the recruitment process and alleged violations of government rules.
Asad Mahmood, son of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, served as federal minister for communications in the coalition government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He assumed the position after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was removed through a no-confidence motion in April 2022.
The investigation focuses on alleged violations in appointments made at Pakistan Post during his time in office.
According to the NAB notice, the Establishment Division had approved recruitment for 3,938 vacant positions. However, the department allegedly appointed 4,252 individuals, exceeding the authorised number of vacancies.
The bureau has also raised concerns over appointments made against 2,646 abolished vacancies, reportedly in violation of instructions issued by the cabinet committee.
Other allegations include making permanent appointments despite recommendations for contractual hiring through a recognised testing agency. The investigation also covers the alleged use of fake documents, recruitment of overage candidates and violations of the prescribed domicile quota.
NAB has warned that failure to appear in response to the summons could lead to legal action under Section 31 of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also taken notice of the matter. Its anti-corruption circle in Islamabad previously summoned Mahmood to record his statement on November 2 at 11am.
The FIA is separately examining alleged corruption and recruitment irregularities within Pakistan Post during the same period.
The investigations are ongoing, and the allegations against the former minister have not been established as proven wrongdoing
