IHC Annoyed Over Govt’s Failure to Appoint Permanent DG PSQCA

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has expressed dissatisfaction over the Federal Government’s prolonged delay in appointing a permanent Director General (DG) for the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). Justice Babar Sattar, presiding over the hearing, highlighted the inefficiencies and procedural bottlenecks delaying the appointment, asserting that statutory requirements cannot be held hostage to bureaucratic hurdles or intelligence agency reports. The petitioner, Dr. Shehzad Afzal, challenged the prolonged vacancy and the allocation of interim charge to the Deputy Director General Finance without proper authorization. The court noted that the position had been vacant for almost a year, terming it a glaring example of government negligence. The Assistant Attorney General informed the court that a summary for the DG appointment, dated September 20, 2024, was pending approval in the Prime Minister’s office. Intelligence agency reports were cited as a prerequisite for presenting the summary to the Federal Cabinet. While one agency had submitted its report, another had yet to provide feedback. Justice Sattar criticized this approach, stating, “The implementation of statutory requirements cannot be held hostage to the whims of intelligence agencies.” He underscored the need for the government to act promptly and fulfill its legal obligations. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the Federal Minister for Science and Technology had unlawfully assigned interim charge to the Deputy Director General Finance through orders issued on August 1, 2024, and December 5, 2024. The counsel contended that the Rules of Business, 1973, do not empower the minister to take such steps. The court directed the Assistant Attorney General to clarify the legal authority for these orders and summoned the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for the next hearing on February 26, 2025, to address accountability concerns. Sources within the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) allege that repeated delays stem from attempts to appoint politically-backed individuals or candidates with questionable qualifications. The ministry has advertised the position multiple times over the past two years but failed to complete the process due to controversies and objections. The most recent recruitment effort faced criticism for allowing candidates with controversial backgrounds, including allegations of irregularities, illegal appointments, and financial misappropriations. Fresh interviews of over 40 candidates were held on September 19 and 20, 2024, without canceling results from prior interviews, adding confusion and raising questions about the ministry’s transparency and decisiveness. According to insiders, the ministry proposed three names for the DG position: Dr. H.U. Khan, Muhammad Farooq, and Zain ul Abidin. Other notable candidates include former DG PNAC Ismat Gul Khattak and Akhtar Bugyo, DG of the Pakistan Halal Authority. Curiously, Dr. Shehzad Afzal, who recently secured a leadership role at the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) after a competitive process, was not shortlisted. Justice Sattar warned that further delays in the appointment could lead to penalties and legal consequences for those responsible. “The Federal Government has failed to discharge its obligation to fill the position of Director General, PSQCA,” he remarked, urging action before the next hearing. The ministry has emphasized that the selection process will be based on merit, aiming to restore confidence in PSQCA’s leadership. However, with lingering controversies and political interference, the challenge remains to appoint a DG who can uphold the authority’s mandate and credibility.