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Justice Babar Sattar: “Statutory appointments can’t be held hostage to bureaucracy.”
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Allegations of political meddling and unqualified candidates plague the process.
ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Federal Government over its prolonged failure to appoint a permanent Director General (DG) for the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), a key regulatory body.
During Thursday’s hearing, Justice Babar Sattar rebuked the government, emphasizing that statutory appointments cannot be stalled indefinitely due to bureaucratic inefficiencies or delays in intelligence clearance.
Petition Highlights Negligence
Petitioner Dr. Shehzad Afzal brought the matter to court, challenging the government’s decision to assign interim charge to the Deputy Director General (Finance) without proper authorization. Justice Sattar noted the DG position has been vacant for nearly a year, describing this as a glaring failure by the government to meet its statutory obligations.
The Assistant Attorney General informed the court that a summary for the appointment had been pending in the Prime Minister’s Office since September 20, 2024. He added that intelligence input was required before presenting it to the Federal Cabinet. Justice Sattar, however, dismissed this excuse, stating, “Statutory requirements cannot be derailed by the whims of intelligence agencies or bureaucratic delays.”
Controversial Interim Arrangements
The court raised concerns over the Federal Minister for Science and Technology’s authority in assigning interim charge through questionable orders issued in August and December 2024. Justice Sattar demanded an explanation of the legal basis for these actions and summoned the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for the next hearing on February 26, 2025.
Justice Sattar warned that continued delays undermine the institution’s credibility and may result in penalties and legal consequences.
A Process Mired in Controversy
The PSQCA DG appointment process has been riddled with controversies, from alleged political interference to the consideration of candidates with dubious records. Despite multiple attempts over the past two years, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has struggled to finalize a suitable candidate.
Sources claim that candidates lacking the required qualifications and experience—some even facing inquiries for financial misconduct and illegal promotions—have been pushed forward, fueling legal challenges and internal resistance.
Recent interviews held on September 19-20, 2024, involved over 40 candidates, but the shortlist raised eyebrows:
- Dr. H.U. Khan, a former acting DG of PSQCA, was previously dismissed from the Pakistan Science Foundation and faced accusations of violating promotion rules.
- Zain ul Abidin, a former interim DG, reportedly lacks the necessary qualifications and experience.
- Muhammad Farooq, another candidate, also falls short of the technical expertise required for the role.
Curiously, Dr. Shehzad Afzal, the petitioner and a PSQCA director, who recently earned an international appointment as DG of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO), was excluded from the shortlist, raising further suspicions of political interference.
Credibility at Stake
Insiders allege that the government has prioritized politically connected candidates over qualified professionals, jeopardizing PSQCA’s mission to uphold technical standards.
With the IHC’s strict warnings and February 2025 deadline, the Federal Government faces mounting pressure to resolve the matter promptly and transparently.
