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Parliament Watch: Nawaz Sharif’s new spokesperson a man of many talents

Dr Mussadik Malik is the newly appointed spokesperson for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. But he is still a relic of the past and of quite some value. Most recently, he was in currency in the era of General Pervez Musharraf. That fact does not devalue his worth though. Politicians of experience say he is a man of many talents, belonging to the genre ever in demand; whatever system of governance may be in vogue. Dr Malik also has the charisma to befriend anybody under the sun.

Trained as a health care administrator, Dr Malik first appeared on the national scene when he joined Gen Musharraf’s signature programme, the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), under Mr. Nasim Ashraf, a close confidant of the former military dictator, now being tried for high treason by the Nawaz Sharif government.

And there the versatile development expert pursued the goal of NCHD – to transform the Pakistani youth into a highly competitive work force. But his efforts went awry with the return of democratic civilian rule in the country under the PPP. Today, the NCHD exists in name only.

Surprisingly, Dr Malik not only survived the downfall but has thrived since. “I had nothing to do with the military government,” he told Dawn, explaining that he had joined the NCHD as a volunteer at the request of Mr. Ashraf. “I gave my input to Ashraf, a friend, who then was busy in developing national human development strategy.”

His curriculum vitae states that after graduating in Pharmacy from the Punjab University, he did Ph.D. and M.S. in Healthcare Administration and Policy in the University of Illinois. While there, he, as a post-doctoral fellow he also studied Health Economics and Medical Decision Making.

One of his colleagues wonders how he became an advisor to governments on the critical energy sector when his academic records qualify him best to work in the medical sector.

Dr Malik agrees that Pharmacy was his initial education. But later on went into policy making. “Very few people know I have done MBA and that in my post-doctoral fellowship I focused more on economics and public policy making. Then onwards I worked with major public policy making consulting firms,” he said.

His CV shows that most of his professional career was built in oil-rich Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain. There, besides teaching, he advised governments on formulating strategies for education, economic transformation, industrial development, labour reforms, employment generation and healthcare.

And all the while he looked for an opportunity to impress policy makers back home. That wish of his was more than fulfilled when he was picked up as minister for water and power by the caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, installed to conduct the 2013 general elections.

According to insiders, former secretary establishment division, Mr. Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, played a key role in the ascendency of Dr Malik in the corridors of power.

Both came closer at the National School of Public Policy (NSPP), where the Mr. Qureshi was sent as Rector by the PPP government after his retirement in 2010, and Dr Malik was a visiting professor.

People close to the good professor say his impressive power point presentations leave not even the shrewdest person untouched. Some may dismiss it as gift of the gab. But a sitting federal secretary testified to Dawn that just one interview with former President Asif Ali Zardari and Dr Malik was chosen to head the ministry of water and power in the caretaker set up.

What shocked though many in the ruling PML-N was Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif choosing him as advisor to rectify the power sector.

Apparently Dr Malik’s flawless expression and presentations charmed the Sharif brothers too. A close aide of Nawaz Sharif told Dawn that Dr Malik was only half-way through his presentation when the prime minister-in-waiting looked decided to keep him in the government.

Another view, however, was that Dr Malik’s Saudi connections worked more in the decision.

A sitting PML-N MNA claimed the prime minister appointed Dr Malik as his spokesman on the recommendation of his daughter Maryam. “The man can sell refrigerators even in snow-bound Antarctica,” the MNA said in a left-handed compliment to Dr Malik’s “extraordinary communication skills”.

However, for Dr Malik, his academic career and diversified areas of work earned him first the position of caretaker minister and then advisor to the prime minister. “For the past many years, I have been teaching NSPP and Staff College, and people know my qualification.”

About his latest assignment of spokesman for the prime minister, Dr Malik thinks his expansive expertise might have caught the attention of the prime minister. “Since shortage of energy and economic development are the areas where the government is concentrating hard, I think my exposure to these sectors got me this new assignment,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014

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یادگارِ غالب: دلی میں مرزا کا آخری گھر

سوہائے علی ابڑو ’موٹر سائیکل گرل‘ بن گئیں

گوگل کروم کا یہ فیچر زندگی آسان بنادے گا

Comments (37) Closed

Yet another example of “not a right man for the right job”. there is a huge difference in public policy making and planning of energy infrastructures. he was ministry for water and power in the care taker government. during his tenure he didn’t take any step to solve the energy crisis. rather just spent his time in crying over spilt milk!

Its complete overhaul of the Pakistani society, based on rampant corruption, which matters and not a competent advisor. He cannot go too far!

On the Other hand Look at IK’s spokes person. Sheikh rashid and Shirren Mazari and some times Murad. Speaks for itself who is better Leader.

Dr Malik is man of many talents. I have heard him delivering lecture and speeches. He is certainly a man who could prove.

Mr. Malik. albeit possessing qualifications unrelated to his current assignment. is a man of caliber. would be wasting his time to be a mouthpiece of a political leader. tasked to defend policies and actions contrary to his conscience.

If he is a man of many talents and can sell refrigerator even in snow bound Antarctica then he should also “love what he do”.Honesty and sincerity are also necessary with talent and expansive expertise for the betterment of Pakistan.

So the whole concept of person-job fit doesn’t fit in Pakistan.

Opportunist to the core.

Lets see what he has to deliver ,optimistic about this Mr.nawaz decicion

hope he is not another relative of shareef family.

Another feather in hat of most undemocratic govt.

“A man is known by what he associate himself with”. Nawaz has associated himself with some renowned professionals. On the other hand IK has associated himself with Sheikh Rasheed, Jahangir Tareen, Khattak & Shireen Mazari..Also, IK associates himself with taliban & Qadri as well. Now who is well known, Nawaz or IK?

@Jahangir Khan I think you forgot the names of Pervaiz Rashid , Both Khawajas one from Sailkot & other from Lahore, Abid Sher Ali, Rana Sanaullah, Hanif Abbasi, Atta ul Haq Qasmi & many many others who are REAL spokesmen of PML-N .

“But his efforts went awry with the return of democratic civilian rule in the country under the PPP. Today, the NCHD exists in name only.”. See what democracy can do a well-coordinated national effort.

“national human development strategy”. I am sure none of present government’s employee even understands the concept. Thank you Musharraf

One man often makes the right road-map but, this gentleman appears hallucinated with his otherwise impeccable credentials. Our power travails would never find a tunnel with a light down its shaft unless someone has guts and courage to say the truth. And, the truth is in the “Energy Policy” based upon just “Rented Power” laid as the Corner Stone in 1993. A country loaded with mountains of stored energy on the roof of the world has endless power potential waiting to be exploited at the cheapest cost that can be imagined. But, some ruthless self-enriching goons at the helm made the obvious benefit as enemy ploy and laid foundation of the greatest downturn of a God-blessed country.

@Jahangir Khan Ms Mazari and Murad are also educated people besides they are not spending my hard earned tax money.

@AL I would like to add one thing more. Honesty and sincerity and “practical experience”. unfortunately majority of our policy makers don’t have practical experience of our problems. I have heard Mr. Musadiq at different occasions, he has good communication skills but absolutely no practical experience specifically in energy sector. I have heard him bullying on the officers of electricity utility companies but he doesn’t know the ground situation and technical limitations of these companies. Its quite easy for him to make policies and supply demand models on excel sheets as compared to their field implementation.

Its the high time that our government should gather all experienced engineers to resolve our energy crisis rather relying on policy makers. We need people with good “communication skills” in UN to represent Pakistan!

After correcting power sector now he is out there correcting dying image of Sharif; good choice. A glimpse of Sharif’s decision making capabilities. imagine he is chief executive of Pakistan, may Allah forgive Pakistanis And for Dr. Malik all his qualification is that he doesn’t have a career path for himself, LOL

If he is a dual national. when the ‘ crunch ‘ comes, he’ll be sitting in his country of choice and Pakistan will be a drawing room topic for him and his buddies.

@Ahmed USA Yours is such a comprehenive Comment !

@Javed..So where is the difference when both have corrupt spokes person..Where is the change IK is talking about?.Yes Nawaz is surrounded by bad people..But who is trying to take him down?another mob whose spokes persons are well renowned corrupt politicians. Not to mention leader. So frustrating being a KPKian that nobody ever gave due attention to KPK. We hoped that IK will deliver but he is another opportunist..Peshawar rocked when he won and people started to share pictures of New York that KPK would be same in 2014..But sorry to say KPK has gone back even further.

@AL Selling Refrigerators in Antartic Rgion would have been easier than selling them in Dubai, d you know this Scientific proven theory? The only problem is that there is almost no populaton in Antrtica.Take the Eskimos exaple, they live in Igloos made from Ice to protect the from Weather !

With all these good qualifications does Dr Malik has most important qualification of consciousnesses? anyone with good and clear conscious knowingly about all the corruptions Sharif Brothers have committed will not even associate with them leave alone joining them.

I know Musadik. He is a true patriot and a friend. His talent and intelligence are reason enough for being on this position. What this article does not tell you is his work ethic. Very few can match his diligence and work ethic. I know this because I saw him working on his course assignment into late nights, sleeping only for few hours before getting up and starting his day.

What else would you want from a person?

Lets be grateful for the fact he is serving Pakistan.

With such illustrious degrees he should never have come to politics to get bad name, politics gives nothing except wealth and bad name that even the sons and daughters are afraid to talk about their political parents.

Looks like the first really “educated” person in PMLN government. PMLN realises that it needs people with brains not just liars and supporters of the party, who look after the interests of the party and its leaders over and above the interests of Pakistan and Pakistanis.

He is just a talkative person, a ‘Bol Bachan’ . We Pakistanis get impressed when someone speaks in ‘Oxford’ English. Whether he has any substance or not does not matter. Take this guy, he was water minister when India constructed the most and this gentleman kept everybody in dark. It was the biggest failure in Pakistan’s history and still he can remain in the corridors of power.

@irfan . I don’t think so. Zardari’s and Nawaz and Shahbaz ‘s children are very proud of their parents. billions of dollars can change people.

An addition to the Rolling Stones .

Musharraf hand me downs are being utilised by NS which is an endorsement of Musharraf as the unidsputed leader

@ AB absolutely right !

If everyone involved in running the governments are so TALENTED then why we see no improvements year after year – instead just going down the hill .

A very talented and well spoken person. Unfortunately, even this man cannot defend the misgovernance, mismanagement, and incompetent head of a family party that is ruining this country.

@Najam Any true patriot would not on any circumstances, on any cost will join looters of country unpatriotic Shariff brothers. The way the are destroying Pakistan.

@Jahangir Khan “Nawaz has associated himself with some renowned professionals”. Joke of the the year. hahaha

This Dr. Malik and Maryam Nawaz surely would be a nice pair for Lollywood Punjabi and Urdu films.

@irshad Please check his credentials- Talent?? Pakistan need to setup an institution to check the past-records of professionals to be placed at such posts