ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) through an office order has appointed Sheikh Akhtar Hussain, who was declared dead in a NAB reference, as the acting head of the Drug Regularity Authority of Pakistan (Drap).

Official sources said Mr Hussain was not only a junior officer but also facing a number of allegations, including one in which the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) dropped two cases against him after he managed to declare himself dead.

However, Secretary NHS Naveed Kamran Baloch claimed that Mr Sheikh was the most eligible officer for the post. Moreover, he said, senior most officers in Drap were either not qualified for the post or would be retiring soon.

Dr Mohammad Aslam was appointed as Drap’s first permanent head in 2015 for three years. He retired on Feb 1 after completing his tenure.

The NHS ministry issued an office order giving the acting charge of Drap to Additional Director Dr Sheikh Akhtar Hussain to look after the day-to-day business of the authority till the appointment of a permanent head.

An official of the ministry, requesting not to be quoted, said it was strange that an officer of grade 19 had been nominated as the acting head of Drap ignoring a number of senior officers.

“There are officers in BPS 20 such as Director Pharmacy Services Sheikh Ansar Ahmed, Director Pricing Amanullah, Director Biologicals Noorus Saba and Director Budget and Accounts Azhar Ali. Moreover, officers in BPS 19 such as Tanveer Alam, Hider Bux Buzdar, Faqeer Mohammad Sheikh, Ghulam Rasool Dotani, Dr Abdul Rasheed, Noor Mohammad Shah and Abdus Samad are also senior than Mr Hussain.”

He said a case was pending in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against Mr Hussain for allegedly declaring himself dead in two cases of corruption. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also looking into a corruption complaint against him, he said.

An official of Drap added that according to rules only the prime minister and the federal cabinet can appoint the head of Drap.

Moreover, there are two decisions of the Supreme Court announced in 2013 in which the government was directed to appoint permanent heads of autonomous bodies before the retirement of their heads.

The official said it was strange that the Ministry of NHS had exercised the powers of the prime minister and the federal cabinet. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi should order an investigation into the matter.

When contacted, the secretary NHS ministry said Mr Sheikh was nominated as the acting head of Drap after a detailed consultation.

“During the consultation it transpired that senior officers were not eligible or they were going to retire soon. So it was decided to nominate Mr Sheikh who is most qualified person for the post,” he said.

In reply to a question, the secretary said Mr Sheikh never declared himself dead. An inquiry showed that NAB had mistakenly declared Mr Hussain dead.

“There is no case of corruption against him so he was nominated as the acting head. However, soon the post will be advertised and after completion of the process a permanent head will be appointed,” he said.

Drap was established under Drap Act 2012 to provide effective coordination and enforcement of the Drugs Act 1976 besides bringing harmony in interprovincial trade and commerce of therapeutic goods. Drap also fixes prices of medicines and takes notice in case of a complaint about substandard drugs.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2018