Islamabad : March 31 ,2024: Ahmad Cheema ,a federal minister cum loyal yesman to the ruling Sharifs , has hit in the media headlines again. This time this public servant rather Sharifs servant is in the headlines due to his inclusion as a director in Pakistan’s two major companies . The local media reports suggest that Ahmad Cheema ,who along with his spouse had earned humiliation for attempting to intimidate Aitichson College Lahore principal for not approving fee waiver for his two sons some two weeks ago, has been appointed as a federal minister when he is already on the boards of two state- owned companies –Ufone and Parco. Ufone is a subsidiary of Pakistan Telecom Company and even after its privatisation , the state has majority share in it and for the same the government can appoint its members on the board. Parco again is a public sector down stream company and the government appoints it’s nominees on its boards. Ahmad Cheema who has a tainted past as a public servant managed to get himself on the boards of these two companies as this position simply brings substantial money for such characters in the form of TA, DA of the meetings of the boards . Otherwise , Ahad Cheema had nothing to do with Ufone or down stream petroleum sectors . The gentleman grabbed position as a director in these two companies when younger Sharif was leading Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rule as prime minister . Appointments as director on the board of the public sector companies is a refined form of corruption. With no exception , every blue-eyed bureaucrat is appointed on the boards of financially strong companies as is the case of Ahad Cheema so that these loyal servants could be used as and when required for any filthy service. Who does not know in this country what was the role of Ahad Cheema as a director general of Lahore Development Authority (LDA). Unbelievable tales of his corruption as LDA DG are still available in many quarters of the Punjab. Every Tom and Jerry in Lahore knows his “relationship” with one of young members of Sharif family. Sharifs never forget their loyals and they accommodate their trusted servants like Ahad Cheema when they come in the power . Ahad Cheema can go to any length in any capacity to give benefit to his masters –Sharifs . This poor nation is still in the shock to know that a governor could force Aitichson College principal for not bowing down to the wishes of Ahad Cheema ‘s wife for fee waiver for her sons. The same is story of hundreds may be thousands of other loyal servants of Sharifs who hold top positions in the bureaucracy . Fawad Hasan Fawad and Syed Tauqeer Shah are a few other characters. They too falls in the category of Ahad Cheema . For their unwavering services for the ruling Sharifs , Ahad Cheema and Fawad Hasan Fawad get top positions in the government in Sharifs rule for their services to this family. Pakistan’s half bureaucracy is loyal to Sharifs and remaining half to Zardaris. Unfortunately , very small portion may have some loyality for the state, but those who fall in third category hardly get any lucrative position when Sharifs or Zardaris come in the power. This mindset in bureaucracy is real cause of Pakistan ‘s poor governance.
