ISLAMABAD: Former communications minister Asad Mahmood’s troubles are mounting beyond the Pakistan Post hiring controversy, as records reviewed for this report show that he retained an $18,499 Rolex watch received during his ministerial tenure without depositing it in Toshakhana or paying the prescribed retention cost, raising fresh questions about his conduct in public office.
Asad Mahmood, son of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, served as communications minister in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government in 2022 and 2023. He is already facing a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry into irregularities in thousands of appointments made at Pakistan Post during his tenure.
The Rolex watch, valued at approximately $18,499 (Rs5.1 million), was received by Asad Mahmood on January 18, 2023. Despite the requirement to deposit official gifts in Toshakhana, the former minister did not deposit the watch or pay the prescribed retention cost to keep it, the Toshakhana record list shows.
The failure to complete these formalities raises serious questions about his compliance with the rules governing gifts received by public office-holders and misuse of his position.
Toshakhana rules required deposit and payment
Under the Cabinet Division’s Toshakhana procedure applicable in January 2023, public office-holders were required to report and physically deposit gifts received in their official capacity.
The rules allowed recipients to retain eligible gifts after their official valuation and payment of the prescribed retention cost. Gifts valued up to Rs30,000 could be retained without payment, while gifts exceeding that amount could be retained after paying 50% of the assessed value above the Rs30,000 exemption.
The valuation was conducted through the Cabinet Division, with assessments obtained from relevant government experts, including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and approved private appraisers.
Recipients could not simply keep expensive official gifts without completing the required procedure.
NAB and FIA probe Pakistan Post appointments
While the Toshakhana record provides details of the Rolex gift, the more serious questions for Asad Mahmood concern recruitment at Pakistan Post during his tenure as communications minister in 2022 and 2023.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned the former minister to appear before its investigation team on November 10 and explain irregularities in the recruitment process.
According to the NAB notice, the Establishment Division had authorised Pakistan Post to recruit against 3,938 vacancies, but 4,252 people were appointed. The bureau is also examining appointments against 2,646 posts that had already been abolished, in violation of directions issued by a cabinet committee.
The inquiry raises further questions over why permanent appointments were made despite a recommendation for contractual recruitment through a testing agency.
NAB is also examining allegations of:
- Recruitment through fake or forged documents.
- Appointment of candidates above the prescribed age limit.
- Violations of provincial domicile quotas.
- Political affiliations of some selected candidates.
- Additional financial liabilities placed on Pakistan Post through the appointments.
These are allegations under investigation and have not been established as findings of guilt.
FIA also summons JUI-F chief’s son
NAB is not the only agency examining the Pakistan Post recruitment process. The FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad has also issued a separate notice to Asad Mahmood, directing him to appear on November 2 and record his statement in connection with the inquiry.
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The parallel investigations by NAB and FIA put the former minister’s decisions during his time in office under scrutiny. The agencies are seeking explanations and relevant records to establish whether recruitment rules and government instructions were violated.
