ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appointed Ali Jahangir Siddiqui as his special assistant with immediate effect, according to a Cabinet Division notification issued Wednesday.
Siddiqui, whose name appeared in the Panama Papers that led to the disqualification of Abbasi’s predecessor, is a chairman of JS Bank Ltd and JS Private Equity Management.
He is the son of Jahangir Siddiqui, a businessman, and philanthropist and he would enjoy the status of state minister under new appointment but is yet be assigned a portfolio.
Another interesting aspect that visibly points towards conflict of interest, as mentioned by social media buffs is that Ali J Siddiqui holds a directorship at Airblue, a firm for which premier Abbasi served as Chief Operating Officer.
Another ‘feather in the cap’ of Ali Siddiqui is the fact that his brother is the son-in-law of famous media mogul Mir Shakilur Rehmanandn to everyone’s surprise, the flamboyant television star Sheheryar Munawar is also his cousin.
Previously, the tycoon served as executive director at JS Investments Ltd and as a director at Crosby.
He holds a BA in Economics from Cornell University and has also attended executive education programs at MIT and the University of Cambridge.
The Cabinet Division had already issued seven Special Assistants to the Prime Minister, as follows:
- Dr Syed Asif Kirmani as Special Assistant on political affairs,
- Miftah Ismail as Special Assistant on Economic Affairs,
- Dr Musadik Malik Special Assistant on Media,
- Zafarrullah Khan Barrister-at-Law Special Assistant on Law,
- Kh Zahir Ahmed Special Assistant on Institutional Reforms
- Haroon Khan and Nasir Iqbal Bosal and both were yet to assign portfolios.
