ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has directed all its ancillary departments for details of appointments made without approval from the federal government.

The order comes after a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office was sent to all ministries and divisions, directing them to provide details of their employees within a week.

According to the ministry’s letter, which is dated April 28 and available with Dawn, ancillary departments have been informed that a Supreme Court judgement dated Aug 18, 2016, had declared that the federal government includes the prime minister and his or her cabinet.

“The prime minister or any other minister/secretary cannot exclusively and solely represent the federal government. Accordingly, Prime Minister Office has directed to indicate all such appointments made after 18th August 2016 which required the approval of the federal government/cabinet as per relevant laws/rules/regulations, but they were made without the approval of federal government/cabinet,” the letter states.

Order comes after PM Office issued letter to all ministries and divisions seeking employee details within a week

It was also directed that lists should include all such appointments that were made pursuant to the delegation powers of the federal cabinet to the federal minister or secretary, being illegal, void and without jurisdiction.

The letter has been sent to all ancillary departments, including the National Health Emergency Prepared Response Network, Human Organ Transplant Authority, Pakistan Health Research Council, Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Pakistan Nursing Council, National Council of Homeopathy, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, National Council of Tibb, Health Services Academy, National Institute of Health, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Pakistan Red Crescent Society, College of Physician and Surgeons of Pakistan, Expanded Program of Immunisation, Coordination Unit to Manage Global Fund, Sehat Sahulat Programme and others.

Departments have been told to consider the lists a top priority and send them to an email address including in the letter.

An NHS ministry official who asked not to be named said the development came about after the letter from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“On April 23, the Islamabad High Court gave a decision that the appointments of all employees who were appointed without seeking approval from the cabinet after August 2016 were illegal,” he said.

The letter from the Prime Minister’s Office, which was signed by Secretary to the Prime Minister Mohammad Azam Khan and available with Dawn, shows that similar letters have been sent to all ministries and divisions.

The letter said that the SC verdict has declared that the federal government includes the prime minister and the cabinet. It said: “The prime minister, or any other minister/secretary, cannot exclusively and solely represent the federal government, and whenever any law requires that a decision be made by the federal government, then it should be the decision of the cabinet inclusive of the prime minister.”

All ministries have been asked to provide lists of employees who were appointed without seeking approval from the government when it was required under the rules.

The letter also said that these lists will be shared with the Cabinet secretary, who will present them before the cabinet in a meeting tentatively scheduled for May 5.

An official from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan who is not authorised to speak on the record said he hoped the employees will be approved by the government.

“According to the rules, the chief executive officer, the heads of all wings and even drug inspectors are appointed by the federal government. It will become a major issue if another controversy arises at a time when health departments are combating Covid-19,” he said.

NHS ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah confirmed that the ministry has sought lists of employees from its ancillary departments.

“As the direction has been received from the Prime Minister Office, it will be ensured that the lists are provided at the earliest,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2020