Posting of minister’s sister in Nacta draws flak

E-Paper | September 30, 2026

Posting of minister’s sister in Nacta draws flak

The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Published June 2, 2019

Appointment of a Lahore College for Women University’s assistant professor, who happens to be the sister of Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, in the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has generated a debate about meritocracy of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government. — INP/File

comments

Join our Whatsapp Channel

Add Dawn as a trusted source

LAHORE: Appointment of a Lahore College for Women University’s assistant professor, who happens to be the sister of Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, in the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has generated a debate about meritocracy of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government.

Shabnam Gul, a BPS-18, was serving as assistant professor in the International Relations Department of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and was appointed as director (BPS-19) in Nacta, Islamabad, on deputation for three years.

According to a notification of Nacta, “The services of Ms Shabnam Gul, Assistant Professor, Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) are required for her posting against an available vacant post of Director (BS-19) in NACTA in Islamabad on a deputation basis”.

Responding to criticism in the mainstream as well as social media, Federal Information and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry defended the appointment. In a tweet, he said Ms Gul held a PhD in terrorism and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and she was selected for the Nacta post after an interview.

However, the media reports claimed that Ms Gul had yet to complete her PhD.

LCWU Vice Chancellor Dr Farkhanda Manzoor confirmed to Dawn that Nacta had requisitioned that the services of Ms Gul be placed at its disposal.

BAN: The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) on Saturday imposed a ban on transfers and postings of professors and lecturers of public colleges.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2019

Pakistan

Strengthening Nacta

PM dissatisfied with performance of Nacta

Six federal ministers administered oath

Jaleel

Jun 02, 2019 12:01pm

Fawad chaudhry is incompetent. I feel ashamed that he is representing pakistan as science and technology minister. Sad!!!!!

Recommend 0

Ibrahim Khan

Jun 02, 2019 12:07pm

What is going on in new Pakistan, Zartaj Gul ? you have to careful please, PTI Govt made Pakistan in Mess.

Recommend 0

Minhaj Khokhar Silicon Valley

Jun 02, 2019 12:19pm

sadly, more and more PTI gov't staffing looks like previous governments. Previously, Health Minister was daughter in-law or Fazal Chaudhry Tarar, a school teacher. She had no experience in health services. Same thing is now happening with this government. This must be stopped. Period!

Recommend 0

Ismail

Jun 02, 2019 12:30pm

unbelievable, old saga of nepotism continues despite many promises.

Recommend 0

HisMaster'sVoice

Jun 02, 2019 12:32pm

There are no apparent qualifications for almost all ministers, so what to say for junior staff. Lets not forget not having electricity (despite being the feudals and MPAs of their area for decades) was the right reason to appoint someone as CM Punjan! Apparently, PTI definition of 'Insaaf' does not include merit.

Recommend 0

Bilal Khan

Jun 02, 2019 12:37pm

PTI has become a joke. Iv been a fan of Imran and PTI since 2008 but im begning to regret it.

Recommend 0

Mansoor

Jun 02, 2019 12:40pm

We are allergic to learning from history. We will make same mistake again and again.

Recommend 0

Zak

Jun 02, 2019 12:42pm

Let PTI govern anyway, because they will deliver in 5 years. Team selection ongoing.

Recommend 0

Poorman

Jun 02, 2019 12:51pm

What a shame! Culture of merit in Pakistan is a distant dream.Nepotism prevails in every institution.We are under inferior complexity because of poverty.We can't get even job of clerk even after qualifing exams.It is a message for the poor that jobs are only for elite class.

Recommend 0

Malik Saab

Jun 02, 2019 01:02pm

It is because of PMLN and PPP. Shame on Nawaz Sharif for spoiling the system. Kindly give Imran Khan atleast 50 years to change the system. But please don't point fingers at Imran Khan and his cabinet. They are sincere and handsome at the same time.

Recommend 0

Fastrack

Jun 02, 2019 01:04pm

And nobody yelling knows what selection criteria was.

Recommend 0

F Khan

Jun 02, 2019 01:10pm

Why suddenly we come to know that the relatives of the ruling party members are competent and the best fit for senior jobs? Zartaj Gul referred her sister's CV to the appointing authority, this itself speaks for some thing fishy.Needs investigation.

Recommend 0

ABDUL MALIK KHAN

Jun 02, 2019 01:17pm

I can't believe this is happening in Medina. First of all, PhD doesn't mean the person is qualified for an administrative post. Second, she hasn't completed PhD yet. Would she be selected if she was not the sister of a minister? No way. Plain and straight nepotism.

Recommend 0

Hyder

Jun 02, 2019 01:18pm

@Fastrack, selection criteria is that the post be advertised in newspapers and then proper procedures followed, which wasn't done

Recommend 0

Tahir A

Jun 02, 2019 01:29pm

A PhD is a joke these days especially when gained on a part time basis. The copy and paste generation. How can they run offices?

Recommend 0

hafza

Jun 02, 2019 02:01pm

a college teacher, without any reference cant even get transfer ...every horizontal posting on deputation is done on the basis of reference. if PTI continued same blunders..we will not cast vote next time to PTI

Recommend 0

Pakistani1

Jun 02, 2019 02:05pm

Each action of PTI government shows that it is more of the same in every thing!!! There is nothing Naya.

Recommend 0

Ashfaq

Jun 02, 2019 02:07pm

Pakistan has never changed with democracy and dictatorship. It can only be changed with Robin Hood styke revolution.

Recommend 0

Justicefirst

Jun 02, 2019 02:14pm

Our problem was dislodging merit in every sphere of our society and same is now being committed by PTI.

Recommend 0

Syed

Jun 02, 2019 02:21pm

Entire team including captain is selected by parchi

Recommend 0

Aby

Jun 02, 2019 02:21pm

Great to have eligible person in PTI ministers family.

Recommend 0

Riaz Bukhari

Jun 02, 2019 02:26pm

NACTA have an MD then a lot of DGs and then dozen of Directors , her appointment never means she will run the whole NACTA but it’s shame for a party like PTI whose slogan is merit . Disappointed from this populist party.

Recommend 0

Siddharth

Jun 02, 2019 02:27pm

It is coincidence that she is a brilliant lady and minister's sister. So such hue and cry is baseless.

Recommend 0

WayToGo

Jun 02, 2019 02:30pm

Its fair in this govt what say ppl!!!!! Old govts cant do yuppppyyyyy...

Recommend 0

Parvez

Jun 02, 2019 02:32pm

PTI has the propensity to repeatedly shoot itself in the foot.

Recommend 0

Nazeer

Jun 02, 2019 02:38pm

Appointment on political basis should be discouraged. Kindly follow the judgments and guide lines of the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding appointment on the post on depotation basis.

Recommend 0

Masroor

Jun 02, 2019 02:43pm

Ik is losing credibility day by day! What happened to his pre-election mantra of merit, merit and merit!

Recommend 0

Sajid

Jun 02, 2019 02:44pm

Pathetic PTI. An other wicket of moral high ground down.

Recommend 0

Shahbaz Ahmed Tarar

Jun 02, 2019 02:50pm

I am PTI supporter but cant afford such stuff, I request IK cancel the appointment of Shabnam Gul and warn all rest not to repeat this again..

Recommend 0

Sameer

Jun 02, 2019 02:51pm

There is a ban in effect. This is wrong. Strong protest must be lodged. Imran must not allow such things to tarnish his reputation.

Recommend 0

James

Jun 02, 2019 02:58pm

It is wrong to have a sitting minister’s sister bring favoured for a position. However PMLN and PPP just can not give any weight to criticising such appointments as they only appoint someone who is from the family.

Recommend 0

Ahmad Khan

Jun 02, 2019 03:05pm

The Prime minister has asked to strengthen NECTA..............

Recommend 0

Syed A. Mateen

Jun 02, 2019 03:08pm

Appointment of Shabnam Gul who was serving as assistant professor in the International Relations Department of the Lahore College for Women University should be cancelled and she should be asked to report back to her previous position. NACTA should advertise the vacant position in the leading national newspapers and interested candidates already serving in government departments should submit their applications through proper channel including Shabnam Gul. The selection should be made purely on merit basis by the competant authority without any consideration whether the candidate has any political influence on any government department or not. Shame on PTI for making hollow slogans of appointing people on merit but in fact dealing underhand for promoting nepotism to give favour to relatives of PTI ministers, leaders and party workers.

Recommend 0

Noon

Jun 02, 2019 03:09pm

@Zak, Please open your eyes and see what is happening blindly following PTI will leave you disappointed

Recommend 0

L.Ahmad

Jun 02, 2019 03:10pm

Incompetent ministers reflect an incompetent government. PTI is fast heading towards political oblivion.

Recommend 0

Lubna Naz

Jun 02, 2019 03:23pm

Very unfortunate precedent of nepotism, people voted PTI because they had trust on Imran Khan, they didn't know that he would turn blind eye to every wrongdoing of his party after coming in power.

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 02, 2019 03:25pm

What else is called nepotism and cronyism at its best?

Recommend 0

raza

Jun 02, 2019 03:35pm

Believe me or not. these 3 are same. ppp, pti and noon.

Recommend 0

Pakistan Lover

Jun 02, 2019 04:01pm

Shame on the minister Zartaj GUl who defamed the integrity of PTI. Why PM has not ordered an impartial inquiry against her for abuse of authority and transgression of power?

Recommend 0

M. Saeed

Jun 02, 2019 04:29pm

How could Federal Information and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry defended the appointment? He said Ms Gul held a PhD in " terrorism and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata)"? What a subject! The person has not even completed her PHD.

Recommend 0

aslamkhan

Jun 02, 2019 05:56pm

This minister should be removed for safarish and defending her decision after exposed by media.

Recommend 0

Moby Moby

Jun 02, 2019 07:35pm

A PhD candidate who had plagiarized her master's thesis was the most qualified candidate? The country has hit the bottom of the barrel.

Recommend 0

K Maliks

Jun 02, 2019 08:24pm

a lecturer as director nacta?.......are you kidding me?.....no wonder such departments are so incompetent......nacta needs pros with actual law enforcement or military style combat, intelligence and criminology experience......not an individual who has been lecturing students in a college.

Recommend 0

Tarik

Jun 02, 2019 09:07pm

Naseem ul Haque is corrupt & incompetent & should be removed as advicer to PM.

Recommend 0

Jun 02, 2019 11:00pm

Sorry Zartaj Gul,,, No Excuses excepted.

Recommend 0

Dr.Siddiqui

Jun 03, 2019 09:20pm

It was the "team" that made IK famous, and its the "team" that is un-doing him!

Recommend 0

Branded Content

28 years of McDonald’s Pakistan: celebrating the local partners behind the Golden Arches

The milestone highlighted the structural evolution of the company's local procurement model.

Etihad Town Sialkot delivers Possession ahead of time

The project was delivered within just 1.5 years against a 3-year payment plan, while commercial possession had already been handed over to customers in January 2026.