Islamabad, Nov 5: The Ministry of Science and Technology has reportedly resubmitted a summary of the appointment despite opposition from the Director General (DG) of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) due to irregularities in the selection process.
Critics are concerned that the department has supported only one candidate without addressing the legitimate concerns of other qualified candidates.
Several candidates, including Pakistan Halal Authority Director General Akhtar Bugio, raised serious objections to the selection process.
They claimed that the department overlooked people with necessary qualifications and experience.
The Personnel Establishment Section highlighted several issues, including the qualifications of the candidates, relevant experience, and transparency of the interview process.
The ministry is reportedly pushing for the appointment of a controversial candidate, apparently bypassing the established rules for the MP-I grade.
However, the ministry unexpectedly organized a second round of interviews on September 19-20 without announcing the first-round results.
This has raised suspicions of nepotism, especially since Dr. H.U. Khan, a candidate with a troubled past, became the preferred candidate.
Dr. Khan faced mandatory retirement from the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) in April 2017 for misconduct. The Islamabad High Court upheld the decision.
Nonetheless, he was reinstated in June 2021 following a controversial investigation during the previous government.
Given the considerable time that had passed since his dismissal, many considered this reinstatement to be legally questionable.
Furthermore, Dr. Khan’s connections are under close scrutiny. His close relationship with Dr. Haroon from Bahria University in Karachi, with whom he worked, played a major role in his appointment as acting chairman of PSF earlier this year.
