NAB summons Fazl's son over alleged Pakistan Post recruitment irregularities

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned former communications minister Asad Mahmood for questioning over alleged irregularities in Pakistan Post Office recruitment during his tenure in 2022 and 2023.

The son of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been directed to appear before the bureau’s investigation team on November 10 at 11am.

According to the NAB notice, the Establishment Division had approved recruitment against 3,938 vacancies in the Pakistan Post Office, but 4,252 people were allegedly appointed. The notice also alleges that appointments were made against 2,646 abolished posts, contrary to the instructions of the cabinet committee.

The bureau has further raised questions over permanent appointments despite recommendations that recruitment be carried out on a contractual basis through a testing agency.

Other alleged violations include the use of fake documents, recruitment of candidates above the prescribed age limit and breaches of the domicile quota.

NAB has warned that failure to appear could lead to legal proceedings under Section 31 of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

Separately, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) anti-corruption circle in Islamabad has also summoned Mahmood in the same recruitment case. The agency had directed him to appear on November 2 at 11am to record his statement.