Ishaq Dar starts lobbying to gain full control of SECP, remove Aamir Khan
Ishaq Dar met Zafar Hijazi before his US visit and wanted to include him in the SECP policy board.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar started lobbying to gain full control of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and expedited efforts to include Zafar Hijazi lobby in the SECP policy board besides removing the current chairman Aamir Khan, however, he has not yet succeeded in his plan.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has begun efforts to gain full control of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Economic circles told News360 that Ishaq Dar activated for bringing back Zafar Hijazi, who played the vital role in joint investigation team (JIT) to probe into the assets of the Sharif’s family and considered his close aide.
Dar also met Zafar Hijazi ahead of his visit to the United States (US) and he wants to include him in the SECP policy board that is going to complete its tenure on November 16.
Mahmood Mandviwalla – a private sector member and the chairman of the policy board – will remain a member, however, it is expected that Hijazi will be included in the board as well besides being appointed as the chairman of the institution.
It should be noted that Asad Ali Shah, the most important member of the private sector in the SECP’s policy board, has already resigned a month ago, while other private sector members include Khalid Mirza, Adnan Afridi and Waqarul Islam.
Two members out of the five commissioners in the institution were retired in March and April last year including Shaukat Hussain and Jazab Ali and the SECP was dependent on only two commissioners.
The Finance Ministry is still unaware of the appointment of new policy board members and other SECP commissioners.
It may be recalled that before assuming the office of the Finance Minister by Dar, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) central leader and former finance minister Miftah Ismail had fully trusted SECP Chairman Aamir Khan and gave him opportunity to work independently.
Aamir Khan’s tenure was extended by former Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen in December 2021 as SECP chairman.
