ISLAMABAD: National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) Managing Director (MD) Rasool Khan Mehsud has become more powerful than Minister for Water and Power Ahmed Mukhtar, who tried to suspend him during the Gilani government, but failed and is now preparing to take up the issue with Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. However, it seems that Rasool Khan’s suspension is a huge task.
Ahmed Mukhtar, right after taking charge of Ministry of Water and Power, had issued orders for the suspension of Rasool Khan, who is also a controversial personality among the Wapda officials but no one ever has succeeded in taking action against him. The reason told by the sources is his close relations with the ruling elite, as he is known among the Wapda officials for fulfilling the vested interests of the elite.
Rasool Khan is such a powerful man that the minister had to threat the government that he would leave the ministry, if the NTDC chief was not removed.An interesting thing is that the new prime minister, when he was minister for water and power, had recommended Rasool Khan as the NTDC MD; therefore, he might not want to remove him.Sources also said Rasool Khan might know the weaknesses of many elites he had worked with, hence his removal could prove troublesome. But Ahmed Mukhtar has been quoted as saying that he and Rasool Khan Mehsud could not hold their respective posts at the same time and he would leave ministry if Rasool Khan retained.
Ahmed Mukhtar has also been quoted for alleging Rasool Khan that he is using his contacts to retain his post. The interesting question is that when a minister is talking about contacts those being used against him then who might they be?It is pertinent to mention that only the PM can remove NTDC MD, though THE minister can issue orders but that needs to be endorsed by the PM, otherwise they are worthless. – Nation
