LAHORE: A spokesperson for the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) admits that under Section 8-A of the EoB Act 1976, the authority to appoint a regular chairman of the institution rests with the federal government.

However, in the absence of a regular appointment for over seven months, the Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Department secretary, being the principal accounting officer, assigned the charge of chairman to Jawaid A. Shaikh, being the senior most officer, as a stop-gap arrangement with effect from Oct 1, 2024 as the slot fell vacant on Sept 18, 2024 on the retirement of the previous regular chairman, says the spokesperson.

The Board of Trustees (BoT), recognising the prolonged absence of a regular chairman and the pressing administrative challenges faced by the institution, resolved to authorise the incumbent chairman to exercise the powers of a regular chairman till a formal appointment is made. However, legal experts wonder if the authority of the federal government can be bypassed through the Board of Trustees.

`Why would one wait for a decision of the government on the appointment if the objective of using the powers of the regular chairman could be achieved through the board?` says Advocate Mian Dawood.

Regarding the qualification and deputation status of the acting chairman, the spokesman has stated that the matter stands resolved in light of the opinion rendered by the Law Division. He would give no details of the opinion overlooking the fact that a high-level inquiry committee of the EOBI had, in 2017, recommended against absorption of Mr Shaikh into the institution. With respect to the investment-related decisions and allied operational issues, the spokesperson clarifies that these matters fall within the ambit of the acting chairman, while the matter of appointment of a regular chairman has been taken up with the ministry for early resolution.

Staff Reporter