ISLAMABAD: A senior official, associated with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), who was removed from his post for the second time, has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asking for help in getting reinstated.

According to the Ministry of National Health Services, a de novo inquiry was initiated against the officer, after which he was set aside and the change of government has nothing to do with the matter.

It is worth mentioning that initially, according to the first termination letter, Drap’s ex-deputy director (BS-18) Dr Obaid Ali was granted 20 days ex-Pakistan leave from Sept 26, 2018. During the leave, he was posted to the pharmacy service division of Drap but he did not report in the division (for 107 days) till the date of termination of his services. An explanation letter was issued but Mr Ali did not respond due to which he was terminated from service, the letter added.

However, Dr Ali informed former premier Imran Khan that he had been suspended by the ministry and had not been allowed to join any office which is the reason why he did not report in the division. He had approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) and the ministry submitted a suspension letter to IHC and did not allow him to join service.

He had also claimed that he appeared in the media a number of times and exposed alleged corruption in the ministry. He had also approached the IHC against the appointment of a former Drap chief executive officer (CEO). The officer had informed Mr Khan that he was removed against the rules, without being cross-questioned about the allegations he had made. After analysing the case, in April 2021 the prime minister’s office had decided that Dr Ali should be reinstated.

A de novo inquiry had been initiated against Dr Ali by the health ministry which claimed that the then prime minister had issued orders for it. On April 11, 2022 Dr Ali was terminated from service again.

While talking to Dawn, Dr Ali said that in the reinstatement letter, it was not mentioned that a de novo inquiry would be held against him. He also said that after being reinstated he had applied as a candidate for the post of CEO Drap.

“As some elements did not want me to become CEO, I was informed in August 2021 that a de novo inquiry has been started against me. It was my constitutional right not to be tried again but I decided to appear before the inquiry committee and demanded that I should be allowed to appear through video link as I was in the Karachi office and the inquiry had to be held in Islamabad and no travel or daily allowance was offered to me. However, the committee decided the case without giving me an opportunity to explain myself,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that the ministry counted the period of my suspension and dismissed me from service for not attending the office. In the second termination, issued last month, it is mentioned that I am not attending office in Islamabad since the last one year. But the fact is that I was appointed in Karachi,” Dr Ali said.

Spokesperson of the health ministry Sajid Shah said that a de novo inquiry was held in which all the allegations were proved and it was decided to terminate the service of Dr Ali.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2022