Govt Hurriedly Resubmits Summary for Controversial DG PSQCA Appointment

Despite objections from the Establishment Division regarding irregularities in the appointment process of the Director General (DG) of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), the Science & Technology Ministry has reportedly resubmitted a summary endorsing a controversial candidate without addressing the concerns raised by other potential candidates. Several candidates, including the DG of the Pakistan Halal Authority, Akhtar Bhugyo, have written to the Establishment Division expressing serious concerns about the Ministry’s shortlisting process, which they allege disregarded qualified individuals with relevant degrees and experience. The Establishment Division has raised multiple objections concerning the selection procedure for the DG PSQCA role, citing issues with the candidates’ qualifications, relevant experience, and the transparency of the interview process, sources revealed. Nonetheless, the Ministry appears set on appointing the controversial candidate, reportedly bypassing the stipulated MP-I Scale rules. A preliminary interview held on June 25, 2024, involved around 40 candidates, from which a final panel of three was expected. However, without releasing these results, the Ministry conducted a second round of interviews on September 19-20, involving the same candidates. This unexpected second interview has raised concerns of favoritism, with insiders noting that Dr. H.U. Khan, a candidate with a controversial past, emerged as the top choice. Dr. Khan faced a compulsory retirement penalty from the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) in April 2017 due to misconduct, a decision later upheld by the Islamabad High Court. Despite this, he was reinstated in June 2021 following a new inquiry during the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, a process viewed as legally questionable due to the time elapsed. Further scrutiny revealed Dr. Khan’s close ties with Dr. Haroon of Bahria University, Karachi, an associate of Dr. Siddiqui, which facilitated his appointment as PSF Chairman on an acting basis in April 2024. The federal minister for science and technology is reportedly unaware of Dr. Khan’s prior legal issues, relying instead on information from his director, Ishtiaq Tareen, a PTI loyalist and Dr. Khan’s supporter. Given these concerns, stakeholders are urging the Ministry to scrap the current process and re-advertise the DG position. They recommend a merit-based selection process, possibly including a written test with a defined syllabus, to ensure fairness and transparency.