ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sent a questionnaire to the health secretary and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), seeking clarifications and records in a case against former head of the regulatory authority.

The letter stated that the case against former Drap CEO Sheikh Akhtar Hussain and others was being investigated by the agency under the provisions of FIA Act 1974.

Sheikh Akhtar Hussain had been dismissed from service on the direction of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) during PTI’s tenure.

He was arrested on Dec 20 after his bail was rejected by a court in a fake PhD degree case. The same day a person, who provided the degree to the former CEO, was also arrested. The FIA also took into custody another person from F-10 sector and recovered printed and un-printed degrees, seals, stamps and related material. The FIA magistrate then sent Sheikh Akhtar Hussain to Adiala jail on Dec 23.

An official of the health ministry, requesting not to be named, said the FIA was investigating a number of irregularities in the authority and had been seeking record time to time.

One of the questions which the FIA asked in the questionnaire was under what law Sheikh Akhtar Hussain promoted incumbent CEO Drap Asim Rauf from RO-13 (BPS-18) to RO-14 (BPS-19) without the recommendation of any departmental promotion committee and without the official qualifying the mid-career management course in February 2018.

The agency also sought files, letters and notifications of appointments of federal drug inspectors, members of Central Licensing Board, Appellate Board and Policy Board issued by Sheikh Akhtar Hussain.

Besides, all notifications issued from Feb 2, 2018 till March 7, 2019 were also sought.

The FIA also asked for the letter of suspension of Sheikh Akhtar Hussain in 2013 on account of accumulation of assets beyond means.

The former Drap CEO was also facing an allegation that he had declared himself dead in a case being investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). As a result, the case was closed.

Besides, the FIA has demanded the relevant authorities to provide contact details of Dr Rohi Bano, Dr Obaid Ali and Dr Mohammad Aleem Akhtar and inquired whether they had been sacked because they highlighted corruption in Drap.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2023